Tyler Clementi's Parents Do Not Want Harsh Punishments Handed Out; Announce Formation Of Foundation In Son’s Name To Address Bullying.

The Times of Trenton reports that six months after their son’s suicide, the parents of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi said for the first time yesterday they do not want his former roommate to receive a "harsh punishment" for allegedly using a webcam to spy on the freshman’s intimate encounter with another man, but, according to their attorney, the family does want the invasion-of-privacy case prosecuted. "We feel it is important to establish accountability and to further establish that Tyler was subject to criminal acts, not merely a college prank as some may argue," said Paul Mainardi, the lawyer representing the family. Clementi’s parents also said they will launch the Tyler Clementi Foundation within the next few weeks to raise awareness about bullying and the ways the internet is affecting young people’s privacy. In statement, Jane and Joseph Clementi said "We would like to help make something positive from Tyler’s tragedy and ours." Clementi died six months ago today when he jumped off the George Washington Bridge a few days after learning his roommate and another classmate used a webcam to secretly watch him in gay encounter in his room on the Piscataway campus of Rutgers. His suicide served as catalyst for anti-bullying legislation and gay rights campaigns since. Clementi’s former roommate, Dharun Ravi, and classmate Molly Wei were each charged with two counts of invasion of privacy. Clementi allegedly found out about the webcam after Ravi used his Twitter account to describe what he and Wei had viewed live on her laptop. Prosecutors said Ravi then tried to set up the webcam in a failed attempt to catch Clementi in another romantic situation. Though the second encounter never happened, Ravi was charged with an additional two counts of invasion of privacy. The criminal investigation into the alleged cyber-bullying case remains unresolved, James O’Neill, a spokesperson for the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office saying "The investigation is continuing. There’s still work being done on the case." Ravi and Wei have yet to be arraigned or indicted, and Ravi remains free on $25,000 bail, while Wei is free on her own recognizance. Both freshmen withdrew from Rutgers within weeks of their arrests. Their attorneys, who have proclaimed Ravi and Wei’s innocence in the past, declined to comment on the status of their cases or whether the two have enrolled in other colleges. Under New Jersey’s invasion-of-privacy laws, secretly collecting or viewing images of nudity or sexual contact is a fourth-degree crime with a penalty ranging from probation to 18 months in prison. Transmitting or distributing the images is a third-degree crime with a maximum five-year prison term. Prosecutors said last fall they were considering additional bias crime charges against Ravi and Wei because Clementi was gay. According to Mainardi, Clementi’s parents would like to see the case resolved soon, saying "Now that the criminal investigation has been substantially completed, it is hoped that the prosecutor will announce additional charges against Tyler’s former roommate and proceed to submit those charges to the grand jury promptly." Neither Mainardi nor the Clementi family said whether Wei should also be prosecuted. In their statement yesterday, Jane and Joseph Clementi said they were grateful for all of the support they have received, saying in part "We have received overwhelming kindness and support from friends, neighbours, our church family and many good people who do not even know us — through cards, letters, calls, flowers, food and prayers." At Rutgers, campus officials said Clementi’s death has had a far-reaching impact. Starting next fall, students will be able to choose gender-neutral housing, an option requested by gay student groups. Other changes include increased training of staff members on dealing with suicidal students and modifications to this summer’s freshman orientation. "We are incorporating a module into our new student orientation program that reemphasizes information, scenarios and discussions about diversity, bullying and civility," said E.J. Miranda, a Rutgers spokesman.