[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 1 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 244--EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE 
 TRAGIC FIRE AT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY IN SOUTH ORANGE, NJ, ON JANUARY 
                                19, 2000

  Mr. LAUTENBERG (for himself and Mr. Torricelli) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 244

       Whereas at approximately 4:30 a.m. on January 19, 2000, a 
     fire broke out in the commons area on the third floor of 
     Boland Hall, a six story residence hall housing 600 students 
     at Seton Hall University, and this fire took the lives of 
     three students--Frank S. Caltabilota of West Long Beach, New 
     Jersey, John N. Giunta of Vineland, New Jersey and Aaron C. 
     Karol of Green Brook, New Jersey, and, in addition, 58 
     persons were injured including 54 students, two South Orange 
     firefighters and two South Orange police officers;
       Whereas numerous Seton Hall students risked their own lives 
     as the fire broke out to save the lives of their fellow 
     dormitory residents;
       Whereas firefighters, paramedics, police officers and other 
     emergency personnel from the surrounding communities worked 
     bravely into the early morning darkness to reduce casualties 
     and extinguish the fire;
       Whereas the entire Seton Hall University community has 
     banded together in grief to remember the fallen students, and 
     numerous people outside the university recognize the enormity 
     of this tragedy and the need to do everything possible to 
     keep it from happening again since every student should be 
     able to pursue an education in a safe, secure environment: 
     Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) expresses its sympathy to the families and friends of 
     Frank S. Caltabilota, John N. Giunta and Aaron C. Karol on 
     the occasion of the funeral service on January 25, 2000;
       (2) expresses its hope for a speedy recovery to those 
     students, firefighters and police officers injured in the 
     fire;
       (3) expresses its support for all of the students, faculty 
     and staff at Seton Hall University as they heal from the 
     tragedy;
       (4) expresses its support and thanks to the brave 
     firefighters, paramedics, police and other emergency workers 
     who saved numerous lives;
       (5) pledges to ensure that Federal, State and local 
     government entities work together to prevent a tragedy like 
     this from occurring again, so that our nation's college 
     students can live, work and study in the safest possible 
     environment.

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