[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 42 (Wednesday, April 5, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2916-S2917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE RESOLUTION 426--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL
CAMPUS SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH
Mr. SPECTER (for himself and Mr. Feingold) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 426
Whereas students and faculty on college and university
campuses are subject to criminal threats from--
(1) within the borders of their respective institutions;
and
(2) the communities in which their respective institutions
are located;
Whereas, between 2001 and 2003, 84 homicides, 7,941 sex
offenses, 9,296 aggravated assaults, and 3,367 arsons on the
campuses of colleges and universities in the United States
were reported under the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus
Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C.
1092(f));
Whereas between \1/5\ and \1/4\ of all female students
become the victim of a completed or attempted rape, usually
by someone they know, during their college careers;
Whereas more than 97,000 students between the ages of 18
and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assaults each
year;
Whereas, each year, more than 696,000 students between the
ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has
been drinking;
Whereas 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and
24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries,
including motor vehicle crashes;
Whereas, according to the Center for Campus Fire Safety,
there were 82 fire fatalities in student housing buildings
between January 2000 and January 2006;
Whereas Security On Campus, Inc., a national group
dedicated to promoting safety and security on college and
university campuses, has designated September 2006 as
``National Campus Safety Awareness Month''; and
Whereas the designation of National Campus Safety Awareness
Month provides an opportunity to colleges and universities to
inform students about--
(1) existing campus crime trends;
(2) campus security policies;
(3) crime prevention techniques;
(4) fire safety issues; and
(5) alcohol and other drug education, prevention, and
treatment programs: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety
Awareness Month; and
(2) encourages students who are enrolled in colleges and
universities to participate in events and awareness
initiatives held during the month of September.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, today is the 20th anniversary of the
murder of a 19-year-old on a Pennsylvania college campus, Lehigh
University in Bethlehem, PA. Twenty years ago, a student who was on
drugs and alcohol entered her room through three doors which should
have been locked and committed a brutal rape and murder.
When I was district attorney of Philadelphia, I dealt with numerous
incidents of campus crime and knew firsthand of the severity. However,
I believe that many people would be surprised by the extent of the
problem.
According to U.S. Department of Education statistics, from 2001 to
2003, there were a total of 84 homicides, 7,941 sex offenses, 9,296
aggravated assaults, and 3,367 arsons on college campuses during that
period of time.
The parents of Jeanne Clery, Connie and Howard Clery, have undertaken
a crusade to try to prevent the recurrence of the brutal crime against
their daughter and have had a national campaign. Part of that was their
efforts, which I joined them on, to introduce the Crime Awareness and
Campus Security Act of 1989, which became law in 1990.
Regrettably, there is only about one-third compliance with the
schools on that act. The beginning of the school year is the time they
call the Red Zone, when there are more offenses likely to be committed.
For this reason, Security on Campus has designated September 2006 as
National Campus Safety Awareness Month to provide an opportunity for
colleges and universities to inform students about existing campus
crime trends. At a very minimum, the colleges and universities ought to
comply with the law on disclosure so that students may know what the
risks are.
I ask unanimous consent that the full text of my prepared statement
be printed in the Record at the conclusion of my remarks.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Statement of Senator Arlen Specter
National Campus Safety Awareness Month Resolution
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition today
to introduce a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of
National Campus Safety Awareness Month. Today is a somber
yet, important day for this resolution to be introduced as it
marks the 20th Anniversary of Jeanne Clery's murder. In the
early morning hours of April 5, 1986, Jeanne Clery, a 19 year
old student at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,
was brutally raped and murdered in her dormitory room. Her
killer was a drug and alcohol abuser and a Lehigh University
student whom Jeanne had never met. He gained access to her
room by proceeding, unopposed, through three propped-open
doors, each of which should have been locked. This heinous
crime opened the eyes of our nation to the extent of crime on
college and university campuses.
When I was district attorney of Philadelphia, I dealt with
numerous incidents of campus crime and know firsthand of its
severity. However, I believe that many would be surprised by
the extent of the problem. According to recent U.S.
Department of Education statistics, a total of 84 homicides;
7,941 sex offenses; 9,296 aggravated assaults; and 3,367
arsons were reported on our nation's college and university
campuses from 2001 to 2003. In addition, 1,700 college
students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from
alcohol related unintentional injuries, including motor
vehicle crashes. Additionally, more than 696,000 students are
assaulted by another student who has been drinking and more
than 97,000 students are victims of alcohol related sexual
assault or date rape according to the latest research from
the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Since their daughter's death, Connie and Howard Clery, have
worked tirelessly in their daughter's memory to protect the
lives of college students by warning them of these dangers
through the work of Security On Campus, Inc., a national
nonprofit that they founded, which is based in King of
Prussia, Pennsylvania. The Clerys first brought these issues
to my attention shortly after their daughter's murder and I
worked with them
[[Page S2917]]
to develop the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of
1989, which became law in 1990. This Act was modified and
included in the Higher Education Act of 1998, as the Jeanne
Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime
Statistics Act. Although the U.S. Department of Justice has
concluded that only a third of all schools are reporting
their campus crime statistics in a manner fully compliant
with the law, the Clery Act has significantly changed the
landscape of campus security for the better, but as the
statistics reveal, more work remains to be done.
Security on Campus has found that the beginning of each new
school year can be an especially dangerous time for students.
This is particularly true for first year students who are on
their own for the first time in a new environment and are
experiencing new freedoms. Due to the increased risk of
sexual assault that female college students face during this
time, the period from the start of the Fall semester through
the end of November is often referred to as the ``Red Zone''.
For this reason, Security on Campus has designated September
2006 as National Campus Safety Awareness Month to provide
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.
Throughout the past several years, I have worked together
with the Clerys, Security on Campus, and crime prevention
professionals on campuses across the country to help raise
much needed awareness about these dangers. Thus, I urge my
colleagues, in honor of Jeanne Clery's memory, to join me in
this effort by supporting the goals and ideals of National
Campus Safety Awareness Month.
Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor.
____________________