[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.

                          ____________________