Alyssa Attakamon / Roundup
Friday marks the Day of Silence as America’s youths take a vow of silence to fight discrimination.
For 13 years the Day of Silence has allowed students to put an end to harassment experienced by the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) community.
The Day of Silence was established 1996 by GSLEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), an organization focused on establishing safe schools for students.
The first Day of Silence took place in Virginia as a protest. More than 150 students joined in and by 2008, more than 8,000 campuses (including K-12 schools) took part in this vow of silence.
According to dayofsilence.org, “Nine out of 10 LGBT students report verbal, sexual or physical harassment at school and more than 30% report missing at least a day of school in the past month out of fear for their personal safety.”
“I am going to participate,” said Amy Lay, art professor at Pierce. “I think a drawing class is the perfect opportunity to do a protest but also to enforce the visual language over the spoken language.”
Putting this play into action, Lay will inform her students about the Day of Silence come April 17.
“I would let (students) know…it would be entirely their choice” she said. “I think diplomacy can fix anything. I think if it’s presented the right way, with options, anyone who has reservations will have some sort of way of dealing with it.”
With that in mind, the goal of the Day of Silence is to shed light on building stronger policies locally and nationally in order to provide a safe environment for everyone.
“I do not know anyone this year who will participate, but I have known people in the past who have participated for this event,” said Hannah Danesh, 21, fine arts and child development major. The fondest memory I hold is my 10th grade math teacher who taught the whole class by being silent.”
Students who worry that taking a vow of silence would adversely affect their daily routine can participate in other ways. The Day of Silence web site (http://dayofsilence.org) encourages students to spread awareness about this protest itself in alternative ways such as printing out stickers, fliers and providing tools for students to start their own Day of Silence locally.
On the other hand, Danesh adds, “…(this) won’t solve anything for the ones who are not accepting of people being different.”
Dayofsilence.org encourages students to participate in rallies as well as volunteer by passing out fliers and even stickers.
Free downloads and tips for getting involved are available at dayofsilence.org.
