Suicide Victim Lends Name to Bill

The family of a former Rutgers University student has agreed to put their son’s name on a piece of anti- harassment legislation.

Tyler Clementi was a student at Rutgers University and he committed suicide after his roommate videotaped a sexual encounter between Clementi and another man as the video steamed online.

Clementi’s body was found in the Hudson River in September. His body was recovered a week after he jumped off the George Washington Bridge.

The bill that is being passed is supposed to make colleges more aware of bullying and harassment that deal with gay, lesbian, and transgender students. This bill would require any college that receives federal aid to create policies prohibiting the harassment of any student.

A story like this shows the new form of bullying that has been created. Cyber bullying is starting to become a problem nationwide and its becoming more common as technology continues to advance. Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey has taken the issue of cyber bullying very seriously and is looking to get more laws passed like this one.

Dharun Ravi, 18, who was Clementi’s roommate and Molly Wei, 18, have been charged with invasion of privacy. Both of their lawyers have claimed that they are innocent.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/18/new.jersey.student.suicide/index.html?hpt=T2