Rep. Pocan, Sens. Murray and Baldwin Introduce Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to Combat Bullying and Harassment at Colleges and Universities

Statement

Today, Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI), along with U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), reintroduced legislation aimed at reducing dangerous bullying and harassment that affects one in five students at colleges and universities across the country. The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act of 2015 requires institutions of higher education to establish policies to prohibit harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religion. The bill also establishes a grant program to support campus anti-harassment activities and programs. The legislation is named after Tyler Clementi, a freshman at Rutgers University who took his own life after his roommate and another student invaded his privacy and harassed him over the Internet.

"Bullying is a real and persistent danger for far too many students at our colleges and universities and too many of these students are targeted for their sexual orientation," said Rep. Mark Pocan. "This bill ensures no student has to suffer the humiliation of being harassed for who they are, or who they love. Institutions of higher learning should be a place of open expression, which celebrate diversity and embrace students from all different backgrounds."

"All students deserve the chance to further their education, without the fear of harassment and bullying," Senator Murray said. "LGBT students are more likely to be harassed in school, yet there is no federal requirement for colleges and universities to protect their students from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. I am proud that this bill would take meaningful steps to provide schools and students with tools to prevent harassment and protect survivors. By honoring Tyler's life with this legislation, we can work to prevent the bullying that far too many students are forced to endure."

"No student should have to live in fear of being who they are. Our schools should not be, and cannot be a place of discrimination, harassment, bullying, intimidation or violence. This legislation is an important step forward in not only preventing harassment on campus, but also making sure our students have the freedom to succeed in safe and healthy communities of learning and achievement," said Senator Baldwin. "Everyone deserves a fair shot at our colleges and universities across America and this legislation will help ensure people can pursue their dreams free of harassment and bullying."

"Schools need to take bullying, harassment and humiliation seriously, by making it official policy. We support this legislation because no other student should have to feel the pain and humiliation that Tyler felt after he had been web-camed by his roommate. Every student deserves to be protected and supported so they can focus on the reason they are in school.....to learn," said Jane Clementi, Founder of the Tyler Clementi Foundation and Tyler's mother.

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