The 2010 suicide of a Rutgers University student brought the
issue of bullying to the forefront of the American conversation.
For some states, it served as an opportunity to re-examine their
existing anti-bullying laws. In response to the incident, New
Jersey passed “The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.” It is one of
the toughest anti-bullying laws in the country and provides
considerable resources in combating bullying in schools.
Following the law’s passage, East Hanover K-8 School District
Superintendent Dr. Joseph Ricca took a natural interest in the
law. Ricca had done his doctoral thesis on character education
and had witnessed firsthand the negative effects of bullying in
schools as a teacher, vice principal and principal. He
understands that the first step in addressing bullying is to
identify and reduce harassment, intimidation and bullying within
the school environment. But he also understands that any
successful anti-bullying efforts leverage the support of the
whole community. In response to the New