[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 1 (Monday, January 24, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S6]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE TRAGIC FIRE AT SETON HALL
UNIVERSITY
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 244,
which I introduced earlier today with Senator Torricelli.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 244) expressing sympathy for the
victims of the tragic fire at Seton Hall University in South
Orange, New Jersey, on January 19, 2000.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, tragedy struck in New Jersey last
week. It was obviously of enough significant interest that it was
portrayed across the country. Three students who were 18 years old lost
their lives in a dormitory fire, and several others were seriously
injured. We are still waiting, with hope and prayer, to hear that they
are going to be able to recover. This is virtually in my neighborhood
back home. I know Seton Hall University well. I know the president and
the archbishop of the diocese; we are very good friends.
Everybody wanted to reach out and do something. The first of the
three funerals was held today. It is a sad day. It raises a question
about what we should expect in a dormitory. Hindsight won't do us much
good in this instance. The building they were in was built a long time
ago. The tragic fire took place last Wednesday. The fire started inside
a six-story residence hall. It took the lives of 3 students and injured
62 others, including at least 58 students, 2 police officers, and 2
firefighters.
Mr. President, we don't have to tell anybody that nothing is as
painful as a senseless accident--which perhaps we can avoid seeing in
the future--that takes the lives of young people. Anyone who is a
parent or relative of an 18-year-old would be seriously grieved by what
happened.
I know I speak for all of us in the Senate in extending our
sympathies to the families of the three students who died in the fire.
They are Frank Caltabilota of West Long Branch, NJ; John Giunta of
Vineland, NJ; and Aaron Karol of Green Brook, NJ, whose funeral was the
first one this morning.
We also extend our support and prayers to the families of the
students and the others who were injured. We are tremendously grateful
to the firefighters and the other people who worked so hard to prevent
the loss of more lives.
It is still too early to know what caused this fire, but we must make
sure, once the cause is known, that Federal, State, and local
jurisdictions take whatever steps are necessary to prevent this from
happening again. Students have a fundamental right to pursue an
education in a safe, secure environment. Parents have a right to know
their children are protected from harm while on school property.
Seton Hall University is holding a memorial service tomorrow for the
victims of the fire. The enormity of this tragedy, however, extends far
beyond the confines of Seton Hall University's campus. At the very
least, the investigation of this catastrophe should sharpen our focus
on fire prevention at campuses across the country and should mark this
fire, Lord willing, as the last one of its kind.
I have introduced this resolution, which should pass the Senate
today, expressing the sympathy of the entire Senate to the families of
the victims and the Seton Hall community.
Mr. President, I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
The resolution (S. Res. 244) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
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 Branch, 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 this
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.
Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote and to
lay that motion on the table.
The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island is recognized.
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