Lawmakers offer anti-bullying bill

Three Democrats have introduced legislation that would require universities to establish comprehensive policies prohibiting harassment.

The bill, offered by Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), would require institutions of higher education to prevent harassment based on sexual orientation, as well as race, ethnicity, sex, disability or religion. It would also authorize a federal grant program through the Department of Education to support college campuses’ efforts to reduce bullying.

{mosads}The lawmakers named the bill after Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University freshman who committed suicide in 2010 after his roommate posted a video online of him kissing another man.

“By honoring Tyler’s life with this legislation, we can work to prevent the bullying that far too many students are forced to endure,” Murray said in a statement.

Currently, institutions of higher education aren’t required to include sexual orientation in their anti-discrimination policies, though many already do so.

The lawmakers said the requirement would help strengthen anti-discrimination policies on college campuses.

“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,” Pocan said.