At Murray’s Urging, Key Senate Committee Holds Roundtable on Campus Safety Policies; Calls for Building Community & Culture that Empowers Students

Murray, Senators convene stakeholders from across the country to address the prevalence of violence—bullying, harassment, hazing, sexual and dating--on college & university campuses

Citing increased incidents, and in light of recent events, roundtable participants also addressed the urgent need to protect students from gun violence

Murray: “While students work hard to succeed in higher education—the last thing they should ever have to worry about is whether they are safe on campus”

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, along with several of her colleagues on the Senate HELP Committee, held a campus safety roundtable to discuss improving prevention and response polices to combat bullying, harassment, hazing, sexual and dating violence on college and university campuses. The roundtable also included a discussion on gun violence, with Senator Murray reiterating that schools should be “safe havens for our students” and recalling the tragic shooting at Seattle Pacific University (SPU) in 2014.   

The roundtable included representatives from advocacy groups like the Tyler Clementi Foundation and college administrators and representatives involved in campus safety efforts from Washington State University (WSU), University of Maine, DeSales University, and the State University of New York (SUNY). In her opening remarks and during questions, Senator Murray emphasized the federal government’s critical role in “holding institutions of higher education accountable for providing a safe learning environment for all students.”

Senator Murray also pushed for the passage of her bill, the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, which would require all institutions of higher education to institute an anti-harassment policy that would protect against cyber-bullying and discrimination of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth. The discussion also highlighted the importance of legislation that addresses sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking, such as the Campus Accountability and Safety Act. 

Key excerpts of Senator Murray’s remarks as prepared:

“I’d like to begin by saying a few words about the Stanford University rape case—as a critical example of why today’s discussion is so urgent, and of the need for us to acknowledge the reality of violence and fear experienced by too many students on our college campuses. I want to make clear—the anger and frustration that the sentencing in this case has generated is completely justified. Our criminal justice system failed a brave survivor who deserved to know that her rapist had been held accountable. But I admire this incredible young woman who has shown so much strength in telling her story…I admire the two students—strangers and responsible bystanders—who stepped up and took action—which highlights the critical importance of bystander intervention—a prevention strategy for combatting all types of violence on campus...Their action shows how important it is to build a community, and a campus culture, that empowers students to step in and support students who are being targeted—whether it’s sexual assault, bullying, harassment, or hazing.”

“And a critical part of this is dispelling the myth that bullying and harassment are inevitable aspects of life. I have introduced legislation named in honor of Tyler Clementi, a young man who took his life after experiencing bullying and harassment on the Internet. And I am so glad that Jane Clementi is here today to talk about her son, Tyler, what he and your family experienced, and how we can help protect students, and all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth—so that no one has to endure what he had to. I am also looking forward to hearing from Dr. Allan today about hazing. Seventy-four percent of varsity athletes and seventy-three percent of students participating in social fraternities and sororities have experienced at least one hazing behavior. Alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep deprivation, and sex acts are hazing practices common across all student groups.”

“Now I know there are sincere disagreements, on what Congress’s responsibilities should be when it comes to sexual assault and violence on campus—but I firmly believe the federal government has a role to play, to hold institutions of higher education responsible for providing a safe learning environment for all students. Colleges and universities must create a culture that does not accept violence. And to be clear—a flier or a onetime training in freshman year isn’t enough. And we as the federal government have a responsibility to engage in and support those efforts every way we can.”

“Lastly, there is a lot of heartache in our cities and communities right now, we mourn the victims and families impacted by the horrifying violence in Dallas, the tragic deaths in Baton Rouge and St. Paul, and we are once again reminded that nowhere is safe from the epidemic of gun violence. Not even our schools—which should be safe havens for our students. My home state of Washington is no stranger to this violence—as we saw so clearly with a shooting at Seattle Pacific University just two years ago. We know there are steps we can take to make our students safer—we should come together in a bipartisan basis, at every level of government, and refuse to accept these horrors as the new normal.”

Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks as prepared:

“Welcome, everyone!

“I am glad we were able to meet to discuss these important and pressing issues—thank you to all my colleagues for joining.

“I also want to thank the many great advocates here who have been working with us on reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, and, of course, improving campus safety.

“And it’s great to see many new faces as well.

“Today, students are making major investments to pursue higher education—which they correctly see as an opportunity to grow and challenge themselves, and to develop skills that will better prepare them for their future.

“While students work hard to succeed in higher education—the last thing they should ever have to worry about is whether they are safe on campus.

“I’d like to begin by saying a few words about the Stanford University rape case—as a critical example of why today’s discussion is so urgent, and of the need for us to acknowledge the reality of violence and fear experienced by too many students on our college campuses.

“I want to make clear—the anger and frustration that the sentencing in this case has generated is completely justified.

“Our criminal justice system failed a brave survivor who deserved to know that her rapist had been held accountable. 

“But I admire this incredible young woman who has shown so much strength in telling her story, and given hope to so many other survivors across our country and around the world.

“I admire the two students—strangers and responsible bystanders—who stepped up and took action—which highlights the critical importance of bystander intervention—a prevention strategy for combatting all types of violence on campus—something I look forward to discussing further with our witnesses. 

“Their action shows how important it is to build a community, and a campus culture, that empowers students to step in and support students who are being targeted—whether it’s sexual assault, bullying, harassment, or hazing.

“And a critical part of this is dispelling the myth that bullying and harassment are inevitable aspects of life.

“I have introduced legislation named in honor of Tyler Clementi, a young man who took his life after experiencing bullying and harassment on the Internet.

“And I am so glad that Jane Clementi is here today to talk about her son, Tyler, what he and your family experienced, and how we can help protect students, and all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth—so that no one has to endure what he had to.

“I am also looking forward to hearing from Dr. Allan today about hazing.

“Seventy-four percent of varsity athletes and seventy-three percent of students participating in social fraternities and sororities have experienced at least one hazing behavior.

“Alcohol consumption, humiliation, isolation, sleep deprivation, and sex acts are hazing practices common across all student groups.

“Hazing activities are often billed as “traditions” but they can have such damaging and lasting impacts on young people—even claiming students’ lives.

“Now I know there are sincere disagreements, on what Congress’s responsibilities should be when it comes to sexual assault and violence on campus—but I firmly believe the federal government has a role to play, to hold institutions of higher education responsible for providing a safe learning environment for all students.

“Colleges and universities must create a culture that does not accept violence.

“And to be clear—a flier or a onetime training in freshman year isn’t enough. 

“And we as the federal government have a responsibility to engage in and support those efforts every way we can.

“Lastly, there is a lot of heartache in our cities and communities right now, we mourn the victims and families impacted by the horrifying violence in Dallas, the tragic deaths in Baton Rouge and St. Paul, and we are once again reminded that nowhere is safe from the epidemic of gun violence.

“Not even our schools—which should be safe havens for our students.

“My home state of Washington is no stranger to this violence—as we saw so clearly with a shooting at Seattle Pacific University just two years ago.

“We know there are steps we can take to make our students safer—we should come together in a bipartisan basis, at every level of government, and refuse to accept these horrors as the new normal.

“So, I’ll conclude here so we can start our discussion, but it’s clear we have a lot of big challenges before us.

“Everyone here today has stepped up to make a real difference—and going forward, we must challenge ourselves to do even more to make campuses safer. 

“Day by day—step by step—we can change not just our laws and policies—but our behaviors and culture.

“I'm committed to making sure this happens.

“I know my colleagues are as well—and I look forward to our continued work.

“Thank you.”

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