[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H8656-H8658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL CAMPUS SAFETY AWARENESS 
                                 MONTH

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 15) supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Campus Safety Awareness Month, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H. Res. 15

       Whereas college and university campuses are subject to 
     criminal threats both from within and outside their borders;

[[Page H8657]]

       Whereas under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus 
     Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act a total of 86 
     homicides, 7,648 sex offenses, 9,649 aggravated assaults, and 
     3,590 arsons were reported on-campus from 2000 to 2002;
       Whereas between one fifth and one quarter of female 
     students become the victim of a completed or attempted rape, 
     usually by someone they know, during their college careers;
       Whereas each year more than 70,000 students between the 
     ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual 
     assault;
       Whereas each year more than 600,000 students between the 
     ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has 
     been drinking;
       Whereas 1,400 college students between the ages of 18 and 
     24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, 
     including motor vehicle crashes;
       Whereas each year there is approximately $2.8 million worth 
     of property damage from fires on-campus;
       Whereas Security On Campus, Inc., a national group 
     dedicated to promoting safety and security on college and 
     university campuses, has designated September as National 
     Campus Safety Awareness Month; and
       Whereas the designation of National Campus Safety Awareness 
     Month provides an opportunity for colleges and universities 
     to inform students about existing campus crime trends, campus 
     security policies, crime prevention techniques, fire safety, 
     and alcohol and other drug education, prevention, and 
     treatment programs: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 15, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  House Resolution 15 expresses the sense of the House of 
Representatives that it support the goals and ideals of a National 
Campus Safety Awareness Month.
  Each fall, thousands of freshmen begin their college careers without 
taking the adequate precautions to protect themselves from real-world 
threats to their safety. Students often do not think about dangers like 
theft, date rape, assault, or even other more serious invasions of 
privacy and more serious crimes.
  According to the nonprofit organization Security on Campus, between 
one-fifth and one-quarter of female students become the victims of an 
attempted rape during their college careers. Often it is by someone 
they know. In addition, each year more than 600,000 students between 
the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been 
drinking; and 1,400 students die from alcohol-related injuries, 
including motor vehicle crashes.
  Some may remember the story of Jeanne Ann Clery. On April 5, 1986, 
Jeanne was tortured, raped and murdered at her dormitory room at Lehigh 
University. Her killer was a Lehigh student whom Jeanne had never met. 
He was also an abuser of drugs and alcohol. Her killer was able to 
enter her room because three doors which should have been locked were 
propped open.
  Shortly after her death, it was revealed that America's colleges and 
universities reported only 4 percent of crime statistics. Because of 
this, Congress passed the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security 
Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, which requires colleges and 
universities to fully report the number of crimes that occur on their 
campuses each year so that parents and students can know what the 
safety situation is and the crime situation is on particular college 
campuses.
  Before that act was passed, many colleges and universities tried to 
cover up what was a truly serious situation, and almost every college 
that has had a serious problem has attempted to do more and better in 
this area in enforcing the laws on campuses since that act was passed.
  The statistics reported since then have been very unsettling, 
however. As proof, a total of 86 homicides, 7,648 sex offenses, 9,649 
aggravated assaults, and 3,590 arsons were reported on campuses from 
2000 to 2002. These incidents occur on campuses of all sizes all over 
the country.
  In August of 1988, Tommy Baer, a student at the University of 
Tennessee's Knoxville campus in my district, was fatally stabbed in the 
doorway of his fraternity house. His death was senseless. The person 
who stabbed Tommy was belligerently drunk and had been harassing people 
inside the house for most of the night. Even as we speak, most people 
have heard about the tragic case of Taylor Behl, who may be the latest 
young person living on a campus victimized by someone.
  This resolution's support of September as National Campus Safety 
Awareness month will help make incoming college freshmen aware that 
these types of dangers are out there. Adoption of this resolution also 
provides an opportunity for colleges to inform students about existing 
campus crime trends, campus security policies, crime prevention 
techniques, fire safety and alcohol and other drug education, 
prevention, and treatment programs.
  Madam Speaker, by adopting H. Res. 15, the House of Representatives 
could send the message that it takes the issue of campus crime very 
seriously and supports greater student awareness.
  I would like to thank the Student Government Association of the 
University of Wisconsin at Green Bay and the nonprofit organization 
Security on Campus, especially, for their efforts on behalf of this 
legislation.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Green) for his support and assistance with H. Res. 15. I 
urge its adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join in support of H. Res. 15, 
supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness 
Month.
  The first weeks of college are an amazing time for young people in 
America. As a matter of fact, I was jokingly thinking to myself of a 
few years ago when I first entered. College represents the culmination 
of years of hard work by both students and their families.
  For most, going to college is a student's first time away from home. 
Unfortunately, a time that should be full of joy and eager anticipation 
for college students is also a very dangerous time. This time has been 
dubbed the ``red zone'' by some because of the risk of becoming a 
victim of campus crime being so high.
  Each year, over 600,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are 
victims of crimes and accidents on college campuses. In addition, the 
cost of public and private property damage that results from campus 
crime is in the millions.
  Sexual and physical assaults are particularly rampant on college 
campuses, placing females at greater risk. Nearly one-quarter of all 
female college students are victims of either attempted rape or rape 
during their college years. The majority of these assaults are 
committed by people those women know. Students are more likely to 
become victims of crimes or have accidents when alcohol is involved.
  Security on Campus, Incorporated, is a national nonprofit 
organization that works to eliminate campus crime. The organization 
provides legal advice to victims of campus crime, works to secure 
campus improvements that reduce safety and security risks, and provides 
programs that help reduce the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
  Fueled by a desire to help secure our Nation's college campuses and 
by the knowledge that the public is unaware of the scope of safety 
issues that exist on campuses, Security on Campus, Incorporated, 
declared September to be National Campus Safety Awareness Month. I 
support this action as a concerned citizen and as a parent. The need 
for safer environments in our Nation's colleges and universities is 
critical to the success of our youth.
  Madam Speaker, I support H. Res. 15 because I feel that the issue of 
campus

[[Page H8658]]

safety is of national importance. I want to thank the gentleman from 
Tennessee for his introduction of this resolution and for his 
thoughtfulness in making us aware of this issue and raising the 
awareness around campus safety.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption 
of H. Res. 15, as amended, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 15, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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