August 21, 1999

MORGANTOWN, W.Va.... At a statewide symposium on school safety, U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., told  participants that their efforts to prevent youth violence is a high priority.

"I consider school violence to be one of the most critical problems facing our nation.  As we approach this Labor Day, it is important  to remember that school violence can happen again, and that it can happen anywhere.  It is my strong hope that we can work together to maintain the safe schools that West Virginia knows today, to protect our children and  teachers, and to keep school violence from ever blighting the landscape of our state," Byrd said.

"I feel a deep empathy with the thousands of parents who may be approaching this particular school year with the worst  kind of worry and trepidation -- worry for the safety of one's child at school.  It is my hope that the work we do here may, in some small way, alleviate some of that worry, and make a contribution towards more secure  schools," Byrd stated.

Byrd and West Virginia University (WVU) co-hosted the school safety event Saturday at the WVU College of Law.  The keynote speaker was James Alan Fox, the Lipman Family Professor of Criminal  Justice and former Dean of the College of Criminal Justice at Northeastern University.  Fox is widely recognized as a leading authority on violence prevention, and has served as a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee  on School Shootings and the U.S. Department of Education's Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined, and Drug-Free Schools. 

Morning panels, consisting of West Virginians who have been actively involved in school safety  and violence prevention efforts, focused on community and school initiatives underway across the state.  Following the panel discussions, symposium participants reacted to points made by the morning speakers, examined areas  that might be strengthened at the community and state levels, and discussed appropriate roles for the federal government.

"If there is a solution to this problem, it will come from citizens," said WVU President David  C. Hardesty Jr.  "We as parents, neighbors, and members of a community must assume responsibility for combating an atmosphere that allows violence to take root in the minds of our youth.  This is truly a time, especially  for educational institutions, to promote understanding, tolerance, and respect."

"Recognizing West Virginia's already strong violence prevention programs, it is my hope today to further enhance our collective knowledge  of the efforts underway throughout the state to address this troubling problem.  Moreover, I hope this symposium will serve as an opportunity to look at what more needs to be done to better protect our West Virginia teachers  and children from classroom violence," Byrd said.

"Given the most serious nature of the challenge we face, it is fitting that we call upon a wide range of experts to focus on new deterrents and prevention measures to  stop this scourge of outrageous behavior before it ever begins, and to find solutions to school violence.  We must all work together if we are to maintain healthy communities and safe schools for our children," Byrd said.