Councilwoman addresses death of Rutgers student

Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown addressed Philadelphia city council about the death of Rutgers freshman Tyler Reynolds.

These are her comments:

Today I will hold my remarks about truancy and speak about a more troubling story.

The suicide of Tyler Clementi, an 18 year old student of Rutgers University has shaken New Jersey.

I would hope that the suicide of Tyler Clementi has captured the hearts of anyone who directly and indirectly touches the lives of children and young people.

This story made my heart ache.

Madame President here are the facts:

9 out of 10 gay youth report being harassed;

Gay youth are 4 times more likely to commit suicide than their straight counterparts.

To think - that 2 minority students an Asian female and an East Indian male both college students would use as a "sport" the filming/spying of another student, another minority student - a gay student, indeed is a tragedy.

The tragic news of a talented young man who took his life because of posted video images that were later shared on social networks should give us pause. We need to make sure we use this as a teachable moment.

It is important to teach our children at a young age to understand the concept of privacy. To understand how to use technology responsibly so that it does not violate another person's privacy and harm lives inadvertently.

Unlike when we were young (I'll speak for me) – today schools are where young people are learning to use new technology such as video phones and social networks...but it is in the yard . . . in the classroom, at the parties and on the field.

Some schools and teachers are beginning to talk about theses issues in high schools – I believe more need to teach the responsible use of technology at the earliest age possible. More need to teach the topic called tolerance.

This incident reminds us that the social stigma of homosexual relations remains a stigma. That a young man would take his life because of posted video images is so sad.

This tragedy should challenge us all to teach tolerance; to love people of all stripes and backgrounds rather than fear and hate of practices and people that are different from who we are as individuals. Being different does not make us better than others.

I urge parents/mentors/caregivers of children and youth clergy in your pulpits teachers/educators in your charter/public/parochial schools anyone who touches the lives of children and young adults to embrace the notion that we must do better

In closing, I suggest that we must be forever mindful that in the brilliance and extraordinary use of technology there remains still so many inherent dangers.

The families of all four Rutgers students have been changed forever.

I expect to investigate what our local public, parochial and charter schools are doing in teaching the responsible use of technology.