Robert Torricelli: “Every year, over 14 million students and their parents agonize over where to attend college. They spend months…”

“Every year, over 14 million students and their parents agonize over where to attend college. They spend months researching schools and visiting campuses in an effort to find the perfect fit. At the top of the list of characteristics students and their parents look for in a school is a safe learning environment. Information is the key to choosing such an environment. Under current law, students and their parents do not have access to all the information necessary to make an informed choice. Current law requires colleges and universities to report statistics on crimes that occur on their campuses. However, colleges are only required to report those hate crimes that result in murder, rape, or aggravated assault. These three categories of crimes only represent 16 percent of the total number of hate crimes that occur on college campuses every year. Vandalism, harassment, and simple assault comprise the vast majority of hate crimes. Under current law, however, colleges are not required to report these crimes. Current law also does not require colleges and universities to report hate crimes against women and the disabled. Thus, parents of daughters or disabled students have no idea whether the college to which they will send their children is safe. Students and parents have the right to information about all hate crimes committed on their prospective college campuses.”