MSU and universities across the country could face more stringent regulation of anti-harassment policies if a bill introduced Thursday to both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate passes into law.
In wake of Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi’s suicide, Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., introduced legislation in hopes of strengthening anti-bullying policies to prevent another such tragedy, Holt’s spokesman Zach Goldberg said.
Clementi committed suicide after his roommate and another student reportedly live-streamed Clementi’s sexual encounter with another male student.
“(The bill is) to ensure that all colleges have a strong anti-bullying program in place to ensure there’s a positive, secure atmosphere on campus,” Goldberg said.
Among other categories, the bill defines harassment to include actions based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion and includes cyberbullying. It also requires all public universities to develop and distribute an anti-harassment policy prohibiting bullying and defining the potential penalties. In addition, schools will be able to apply for a grant from the Department of Education to help fund anti-harassment programs.
MSU’s anti-discrimination and sexual harassment policies already include this bill’s recommendations and requirements, said Paulette Granberry Russell, senior adviser to the president for diversity and director of MSU’s Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives.
The university’s policy prohibits bullying and sexual harassment. Students accused of such behavior face the university judicial process. Although MSU’s policies do not specifically prohibit cyberbullying, they prohibit any harassment behavior, which can include utilization of technology, she said.
“The university has had for some time now a fairly comprehensive policy prohibiting harassment on a range of categories or characteristics beyond what you’d find in that legislation,” Russell said.
The legislation can’t eliminate all instances of bullying, but hopefully would make enforcement easier, Lautenberg said in a statement.
“It is vitally important that all students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and secure environment,” Lautenberg said in the statement.
A spokesperson for Lautenberg could not be reached Monday for further comment.
Although only a few weeks remain in the legislative session, Holt hopes the bill will pass into law, Goldberg said.
“Holt certainly believes this is an important issue that should be a priority of the Congress,” Goldberg said.
MSU does not seem to have a problem with harassment, but the legislation still is a positive step toward preventing bullying, human biology sophomore Veronica Wilson said.
“I think a bill like that would be a good start,” Wilson said. “I personally don’t believe we have a bullying problem but I think it could be happening more than people like me realize.”
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