Lautenberg: RU's Rice shows need for anti-bullying laws
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Lautenberg: RU's Rice shows need for anti-bullying laws
WASHINGTON – The video-taped ravings of Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice – fired Wednesday morning – show the need for anti-bullying laws at colleges, New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Rush Holt said today.
“This incident shows us that physical and emotional abuse of college students by faculty is occurring right under our noses,” the two Democrats said in a news release. Rice was fired after video surfaced of him berating players with homophobic slurs, shoving them and throwing basketballs at them.
The two lawmakers had previously introduced a bill requiring colleges and universities to include a policy statement prohibiting harassment by students, faculty, and staff. It also authorizes grants for programs to prevent bullying.
“Rutgers made the right decision by finally firing Mike Rice for his deplorable actions and homophobic slurs, but more needs to be done to make sure this type of abuse is stopped and a strong code of conduct protecting students from such harassment is enforced,” Lautenberg and Holt said.
The bill, named the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, is named for a Rutgers freshman who committed suicide in 2010 after being outed as gay. Clementi’s roommate had secretly recorded Clementi with another man and showed the video to others. Clementi, 18, jumped off the George Washington bridge several days after learning of the video.
Yo, we don't need another law but we do need to have a boss with the guts to get rid of someone so obviously unqualified for the job they were hired to do...even if you are the one that made the decision to hire them.— rex nemorensis- Rice is a girl scout compared to some of my coaches.— Disco Dave
- Frank Lautenberg's ravings clearly show the need for term and age limits in the U.S. Senate.— nellar
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The man has issues.— MS. LOU.- Jeez Frank, talk about trying to politicize a news story. The guy got what he deserved, fired. And it will be a long time until he gets another job. No further action is needed. We don't need a law for everything that happens in the world.— tfnj42
- With all of the problems ailing our country, starting with a dysfunctional US Congress, this buffoon picks the most off the wall and inane pet topics to champion. Like others have posted here, he is the poster boy for 12 year term limits; 2 terms and you are out. His day in the sun set about 25 years ago.....too bad he never realized it.— DelawareRiverRat
- Nice try Frank. That was the dumbest thing I've heard in awhile. How about fixing your buddy's economy instead of worrying about stupid nonsense.— Phillies2008WSChamps
- NJ has the strongest Anti-bullying laws in NJ and it applies to staff as well as student as well as higher ed. If the RU ignores it that's not the fault of the law.— AlwaysRight
- What we "NEED" is common sense and values in our colleges. There is no doubt that RU folks knew what was going on (they certainly should have some oversight for the program!) and refused to do anything! Why! Money?
Does the plea of "We had no idea!" ring true? How about PSU?— bartfr - Frank, time to look into short term care.— Dave 123
- CORRECTED: NJ has the strongest Anti-bullying laws in US and it applies to staff as well as studens as well as higher ed. If the RU ignores it that's not the fault of the law. Since the law was created because of RU their ignoring Rice is truly egregious.— AlwaysRight
- Put this fossil in the retirement home.— Gimmemyfreestuff
- Ray Bolger is dead, isn't he?— Frank J Graff
- Obviously, some of the posters have NEVER played school yard type sports or little league football with a volunteer coach. Lighten up – NKorea will end all this controversy if things keep going the way they are. Where is Sean Penn when we need him: obviously the dytopian ambassador Rodman failed in his mission.— STEPHEN1988
Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s correspondent in Washington, where he follows the Philadelphia area’s interests and representatives. Tamari comes to D.C. after two years as a beat writer reporting on the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL (where, a political source once told him, there are at least rules against hitting below the knees). He previously wrote about politics and government from Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government.Jersey born and bred, Tamari now lives in the capital city, where he is looking for stories, places to run, soccer bars and good meals.
Reach him at jtamari@phillynews.com.
Follow Jonathan on Twitter: @JonathanTamari.
