By: Abigail Sun & Jack Peng Staff Writers
Con:
With the recent Sexual Assault walkout at Mills High School and students’ responses to it, it may seem like the walkouts do not make a difference. However, walkouts have proven to be the most common approach to spread awareness about social issues. For example, The Women’s March, March For Our Lives, various gun control walkouts across the country, sexual assault walkouts are only to name a few.
The main priority for students planning a walkout is to leave them feeling enlightened, or in the least informed. The question is, do students feel impacted enough by the information presented to follow up on the issues afterwards? In my personal experience, no. Students are not affiliated as much as they portray during the actual event. Daniel Inocencio, 9th grader, reflects on his experience after the walkout. “I didn’t know a lot of the information or statistics and I never realized how bad it was. I think the reason I never realized it because it never affected me.” Most students stand by and watch as others “March For Their Lives.” Of course, we cannot expect every student to take major action, but we do wish more students would join forces to find a solution, instead of remaining observers.
In a world outside Mills, multiple walkouts have proven themselves to be successful, just maybe not as much as we had hoped. The “March For Our Lives” campaign sparked several rallies and walkouts that called for stricter gun laws. Gallup took a poll after the Parkland shooting that showed “support for stricter gun sales was at a peak since 1993.”
These results affect America as a whole, but do walkouts specifically at Mills affect us? The sexual assault assembly we’ve had this year was organized beautifully, but there has not been a dramatic change in the way students behave. Math teacher Mr. Headley said that he has not noticed any dramatic change in student behavior. “No, I haven’t noticed a difference in student behavior afterwards. Seems like normal after lunch shenanigans.” Although, we should not forget the few students that strive to make change. Some students have started organizations to raise awareness to the problems addressed, such as the San Mateo Activist Coalition (SMAC). SMAC is a student run organization who raise awareness for a variety of real-world problems, such as sexual assault, gun control, and LGBTQ+ rights. Stephanie Wong, the head of SMAC and designer of the sexual assault walkout explained how even after the walkout students were asking her “What’s next?” From her perspective, she believes students cannot empathize because they have never experienced sexual assault themselves. “We’re in a difficult position where all we can do is be there for the people we love.”
Students and teachers are not being affected enough by walkouts to the point where they are striving to change social injustices. Some can argue that various organizations and startups are making differences but there has not been an obvious change in behavior so far. Although some students will use this opportunity call for awareness, most have not.
Pro:
Last year, students walked out to stand up for gun control. The past two years students participated in the Mental Health Assembly to help those with anxiety and depression. In late October Mills hosted the Sexual Assault Survivors Walkout to empower victims to fight against sexual misconduct. Recently students went to the Sexual Assault Assembly to learn about sexual misconduct. These events strike a question: Do walkouts and assemblies motivate students to fight against social problems?
Yes, they do, these walkouts empower students to do more for their community. For example, San Mateo Activist Coalition (SMAC) was created during the gun control walkout hosted at Mills last year. As a student-run organization, they have collaborated with high schools in the San Mateo District in an effort to lead the walkouts and it produced a positive impact. Furthermore, after the first and second Mental Health Assembly, students felt more inclined to open up about depression and anxiety. When asked if after the Mental Health Assembly more students came to the wellness counselors for help, Sophia responded, “Yes, more new people came by, especially freshmen. Additionally, more people were willing to talk when referred by teachers.” Each of these events raised awareness and displayed how students are more than capable of taking charge so that they may make a difference.
To say the least, Mills has helped the fight against social issues. Many teachers have even noticed a change in student perspective on gun control, sexual assault, and mental health. History teacher, Mr. Burdette has said fighting against political problems is very important and that, “Participation in political action, which is an attempt to control the path of history, is more important than any history lesson that I teach. It has the potential to have more of a lasting impact on the adults that my students will become than my class may have.” Since these events, students have created countless clubs and organizations to fight against social problems, displaying the sincere impact walkouts and assemblies can have on students.
At Mills, it appears that walkouts motivate students to make a difference against social injustices. While some may argue that students aren’t doing enough, it is clear that they are taking action through organizations and clubs working to change the world. Stephanie Wong, the head of SMAC explained how, “More people need to think with their hearts instead of their heads.” In others words, change happens when we take a closer look at the issues we are facing. Sometimes all we need to do is take step back and realize what we’re really struggling with.
