Rutgers Rally Scheduled For Wednesday An Awkward Attempt To Shift Responsibility For Tyler Clementi Suicide From Dharun Ravi And Molly Wei To The University Itself, New Jersey Legislators Propose Stronger Anti-Bullying Laws, Anoka-Hennepin School District Attempts To Strengthen Anti-Bullying And Harassment Policies

It is not clear why, but Wednesday a student group at Rutgers University, Queering the Air, has organized a rally to condemn what it considers a “rush to judgement” in which two undergraduates – Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei – have been blamed for the suicide of 18 year old Tyler Clementi, the rally titled “Justice Not Vengeance," according to a report in MyCentralJersey.com. Robert T. O’Brien, an instructor in the Department of Anthropology, whose affiliation with the student group is ambiguous at best, released a statement in support of the rally, reading in part “Ravi and Wei have become a foil for anti-Asian racism calling for their ‘return to their countries,’ and ascribing homophobia to their cultures – as if homophobia were not deeply ingrained in the culture of the U.S. Two students are being scapegoated for the failure of the university and the wider community to provide a safe environment for Rutgers’ diverse community. Such public outrage often fuels vengeance and inequality rather than actions.”

Meanwhile in New Jersey legislators are attempting to strengthen anti-bullying laws for school-age children, the Star-Ledger reporting that that the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights would require training for nearly all school employees on how to recognize, prevent, and report acts of intimidation. Measure A3466 would also mandate school staff to report harassment they learn occur of that takes place off school property – and that those who fail to will face disciplinary action.

In Minnesota Monday, the Anoka-Hennepin School District board changed its anti-bullying and harassment policies to state explicitly what classes are protected, including race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, age, poverty, and sexual orientation. The measure passed unanimously, NPR reporting that the clarification was required in order to make certain it is understood that the bullying and harassment of gay students will not be tolerated. The district was condemned earlier this year, after it was reported that 15 year old Justin Aaberg of Andover, Minnesota hanged himself in his bedroom in July, friends later revealing that he had been the frequent target of bullies, the staff at the school he attended having known, but having done nothing. His mother, Tammy Aaberg, addressed the board Monday, and said that not enough changes were made, arguing that the district’s neutrality policy must also be changed. “I want to know, who is it going to hurt if you change the policies to include equality for everybody? Can we all be a little more like Justin, and accept everyone for who they are and not for who you want them to be?”