Students on campuses with Gay Straight Alliances are more likely to report
feeling safe at school, and
less likely to be exposed to bias-related harassment.
“T 12 Leadership
hree years ago, I walked my friend to second pe- riod every day. Every sin- gle day, he was bullied. He
was called names and harassed; sometimes he was pushed and tripped. Every day it was a new challenge to get him to class without get- ting hurt. I don’t see it happening as much today. If it is happening, we want that kid to have a place to go.” – Jason, grade 11.
Jason shared his memories at a recent
Gay Straight Alliance meeting. Club meet- ings are a safe space for students to discuss their lives and get informed. The GSA at Mayfair Middle/High School, in concert with other clubs on campus, is steadily shifting school culture toward one of inclu- sion. Some of the leading groups on campus include Young Black Scholars, Spanish club, Leo club, Pacific Islanders club, Friends of Rachael, ROCK and Learning Acceptance through Friendship and Fun Club. Together with the GSA, this network of clubs on cam-
pus is striving to create a safe and support- ive environment for all students. Teachers and students alike are notic-
ing a change. Teachers believe that students are altering the language they use in class to better accommodate diverse students. The hard work of socially minded clubs is pay- ing off for those students who are still look- ing for a connection with their school. “Its about visibility,” says Amanda
McAndrew, campus activities director. “Just like the other clubs, [the GSA] creates a safe space for a student that may not oth- erwise get involved.” She has seen the effects of bias-based harassment firsthand. Over the years, she has mentored several students who didn’t feel like they “fit in.” She is de- lighted that another group has formed on campus to provide support to vulnerable students. McAndrew’s observations align with the
By James Fleming
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