Lately, Vanguard has been focusing on educating students about bullying. With the suicides that have taken place recently along with all the media attention, the Culture Captains thought it a good idea to inform fellow classmates on the harms of picking on someone.
Director Mr. O’Brien says, “As a staff of almost 20 with only 100 students, we are aware of what’s going on at school most of the time. If we do notice bullying, we take action right away. Last year we even removed a student from Vanguard.”
Students are getting very involved with this issue. Some students are using their pens as weapons against the bullies. Junior Nick Strelak wrote a poem titled ‘Bullying is Pushing the Limit.’ The poem is plastered all over the halls. An anti-bullying poster made by the Culture Captains, along with signs saying ‘NO BULLY ZONE’, have been hung up all over the school. Some have even chosen to wear these signs on their backs.
Wednesday morning, the whole school watched the documentary, “Bullied,” which told the story of high school student Jamie Nabozny. Nabozny was taunted and beaten throughout his life because of his sexual preference. “If you don’t help some one that’s being bullied, then you’re just as guilty as the bully,” says Cris Richardson. He was very inspired by the film. Many students across the nation, including students Val Carley and Matt Beutel, wore purple to support the end of anti-gay bullying.
Obviously, we are all on the case about bullying. Ms. Medina-Perez states, “Bullying is a big deal to the staff. We believe that school should be a safe place, and it’s our job to keep it that way.” Well, we are all working on it!
“I’m real proud of students and their honesty about bullying. One powerful result of this campaign from the culture captains is all the courageous conversation going on around here,” said Ms. O’Neill.
Senior Julia Sovcik is spreading the word about bullying. She befriended and contacted Jamie Nabozny on the Facebook, and ended up getting a note back from him. Students can also help prevent harassment by learning more about the pain and dreadful consequences of bullying by seeing “The Laramie Project” this weekend. This is a play about Matthew Shepard who was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and murdered because he was gay during the 1990s. It will be playing October 21 at 7:00 pm, and October 22 and 23 at 7:30 pm at Buffalo Grove High School. It is highly recommended you see this passionate, timely, and moving act.
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