Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes to Strengthen Anti-Harassment Protections for College Students
‘Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act’ Would Require University Administrations to Establish Written Discrimination Prevention Policies, Including Against Cyber-Harassment
41 Percent Increase in Antisemitic Incidents on College Campuses in 2022, One-Third of LGBTQ+ Students Experience Harassment
Read the Bill Here
Washington, DC – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02) in introducing the ‘Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act’ to require colleges and universities receiving federal support to establish written anti-harassment policies to prohibit harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion. This legislation would also require schools to recognize “cyberbullying” as a form of harassment.
The bill was introduced on the anniversary of the death of Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers freshman who lost his life to suicide in 2010 after his roommate and another student invaded his privacy and harassed him over his sexual orientation.
“Harassment and discrimination on campuses across the nation have seen a dramatic increase recently, so it is critical for Congress to take immediate action to ensure that students across America do not suffer from hate and harassment,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “College campuses should be safe places to bring together a diverse group of young adults in the pursuit of discovery and learning. Establishing strong anti-harassment policies will ensure that every student will have the ability to succeed in their educational journey free from the harmful impacts of discrimination and harassment.”
The ‘Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act’ would help protect students from campus bullying and harassment, and address this widespread issue by:
- Requiring all colleges and universities receiving federal aid to prohibit the harassment of enrolled students based on their actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religion;
- Requiring schools to distribute their anti-harassment policy to all students and employees, including prospective students and employees, upon request.
- Requiring schools to recognize “cyberbullying” as a form of harassment; and
- Creating a grant program to help colleges and universities start or expand programs to prevent harassment and provide counseling services to students who have experienced harassment.
Students across the country continue to face widespread bullying and harassment on college campuses, and LGBTQ+ students are nearly twice as likely to experience harassment in higher education. A report published last year found that one-third of LGBTQ+ students at four-year colleges were bullied, harassed, or assaulted.
Meanwhile, antisemitic incidents on college campuses increased by 41 percent in 2022.
This widespread harassment has detrimental effects on student’s wellbeing and educational opportunities.
The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Actis endorsed by the Tyler Clementi Foundation, the American College Health Association, the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, GLSEN, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), and The Trevor Project.
As a member of the Congressional Equality Caucus, Congressman Goldman is committed to protecting all New Yorkers from discrimination and hateful violence.
In June, he joined fellow members of the Equality Caucus to introduce the Equality Act, an extension of the non-discrimination protections in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Congressman Goldman has also urged Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge to protect LGBTQ+ seniors from housing discrimination in public housing.
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