New anti-harassment policies that include cyber-bullying will be standardized at colleges receiving federal aid.

The Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, a bill co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, was originally introduced after Tyler Clementi committed suicide as a result of cyber bullying at Rutgers University in 2010.

The legislation was formally reintroduced Thursday by Sen. Murray, D-Wash., and Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.

“I think it would be shocking to many in the country that many colleges don’t have specific policies on campus that prevent bullying, harassment or cyber bullying,” Murray said.

WSU Dean of Students Melynda Huskey said the basis of the bill has been around for a long time, but it will specifically address the issue of harassment through technologies.

However, Huskey said WSU’s standards of conduct for students already includes cyber-bullying.

“In terms of policy, it probably actually won’t change very much,” Huskey said. “We’re way ahead of the game there.”

Murray also acknowledged that universities and colleges across the country are on different levels when it comes to harassment policies.

“WSU has a policy, many universities don’t,” Murray said.

Murray said part of her decision to co-sponsor the bill came from an experience of one of her staff members, Kristopher Sharp.

Sharp, an HIV-positive gay man, said he was a junior at the University of Houston last year when he decided to run for student government office.

Sharp said while running for office, homophobic flyers were distributed containing personal medical records showing that he was HIV positive.

“I think the situation is very shocking in many ways, but I think the most shocking is the reaction from the university,” Sharp said. “The university initially decided that they would do nothing.”

Murray said the position of the university was that the flyers were covered under free speech. She said wants the bill to ensure that a situation like that will not happen again.

“To find out the dean of students, all-powerful, couldn’t do anything, that shouldn’t happen again,” Murray said.

Murray said the bill will prohibit harassment for anyone and will be all encompassing of sexual orientation, race, religion, and gender.

“Many universities don’t have these policies, and those who do, many aren’t clearly articulated or easily accessible for students,” Sharp said.

Sharp said he hopes the bill will make the policies clear not only to universities but also to the students.

“Learning cultural competency is not something taught in classrooms. It’s something you have to learn, and if students and teachers aren’t learning this, then we’re going to keep running into problems,” Sharp said.

While Huskey said she believes there are few problems on the WSU campus with harassment or cyber bullying, the introduction of the bill is a reminder of the issue.

“I think anytime we can call attention to behavior we don’t want that’s a good thing,” Huskey said.

Murray said while the bill was originally introduced in honor of Tyler Clementi, the issue of harassment and cyber bullying still occurs.

“I think it’s gone away from people’s radar, but when you see this happening to Kris, it’s clear it’s happening to students all over the country,” Murray said.