Respect: a sense of the worth of a person, or a personal quality or ability. By definition it seems simple, yet we hear about the consequences of bullying and hazing among children and young adults more and more frequently on the news, and even in our own schools. Recently, New York State approved the Dignity for All Students Act in order to address issues such as harassment and discrimination on school property, and during school sponsored activities. The law entails new amendments made to the code of conduct, and expands the State Education Law in reference to education under tolerant instruction.

But what does DASA really imply about our modern society? The stark reality is that society has laid dormant the seeds of morality. We’ve managed to place a man on the moon, even create super tomatoes that never spoil, yet we have not differentiated what moral conduct is and is not acceptable. We’ve either experienced or studied historical examples like the passage of women’s suffrage, and the Civil Rights Movement–so much so that one would not dare to tip the scale of justice; it has been engrained so deeply into us that everyone should be entitled to their rights as a human being no matter what race, gender or religion.

However, it seems our youth is in a state of amnesia. We’ve forgotten all about respect, and have replaced it with cheap jokes, and offensive behavior. Just recently, a Rutgers student was tried for the death of his roommate who committed suicide after a video tape of his homosexual encounter was leaked to other students on campus. It is truly a tragedy when a person’s very own privacy becomes the subject of ridicule. With the rise of teen suicide rates DASA promises a safe community for students to receive their education, but how well can the law prevent and protect students on the internet?

We live in a world where our cell phones double as iPods, even triple as networks—all at the touch of a button. We’ve turned face time into FaceTime, “hellos,” into instant messages, and making friends into sending requests. As social networking becomes faster and simpler, society virtually perpetuates yet another medium for bullying and hazing to channel itself.

So what jurisdiction does DASA possess when a child faces a cyber bully? Well for one, schools are directed to appoint a board member as a Dignity Coordinator that should be available to students and employees for advice as needed, and nurses must keep school logs of both self-reported and peer-reported injuries (both physical and emotional), illness, health implications, and other complications that result from an act of violence or aggression.

But the problem is that computer screens don’t reveal emotional scars. Due to shame or embarrassment, the act doesn’t reduce the likelihood of the very same thing from happening. Schools are granted the right to violate Federal civil right statutes if a student’s safety is questioned or jeopardized. Perhaps new systems of monitoring suspected aggressors would help to eliminate the barrier between schools and the cyber world.

DASA is clearly another measure towards creating an equal learning environment, and has great potential to save lives. Unfortunately, our generation doesn’t seem to realize the importance of human uniqueness.

The fact that these acts of violence even reached such a threshold as to influence legislation is a sad query society imposes. But we are all individuals with our own qualities, our own strengths, our own weaknesses, and our own rights to all of the former.

Under the Dignity For All Students Act, the future becomes a brighter sanctuary for students seeking their very own dignity.