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F E A T U R E
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staff editorials
The opinions expressed on this
page reflect the consensus
of the Editorial Board.
Be Nice, Do Right
With concern about high school violence increasing, it is the students who must take affirmative action
Two years ago this very day at 11:15 a.m., Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold left their mark on the world. The shooting and bombing rampage later to be known as the Columbine High School Massacre took the lives of 14 students and one teacher. Since that fateful Thursday, the media has been swamped with jarring headlines of additional acts of violence occurring in high schools across the nation. And, with commotion like this on the rise, nobody can predict what might be lurking down any given hallway or classroom.
Administrative efforts to keep our school safe include a locked campus, a police liaison and motivational speakers meant to inspire character and leadership in the student body. We appreciate these efforts taken to alleviate potential prob-lems, but the solution is not in the hands of the administration. Locked doors and a little desk at the front door are ineffectual defenses against a student who believes violence is the only answer. No matter how hard the administration tries, plain and simple, it's not up to them.
It is we, students, who must initiate the change, because the kids who open fire are victims of the system, too. Although they are the ones who take the active step to fire their guns, all of the blame cannot fall solely on their shoulders. We would be fools not to recognize that high school kids can be cruel. We bully, tease and taunt behind the guise that it is all in good fun. In the halls here at Central, it is commonplace to find a kid being pushed or teased, as others laugh. Eventually, sure, the kid laughs, too, but his response is a little delayed...a little rushed. How far can one push before humor gives way to cruelty?
We can't give you an an-swer because it's different every time. The most we can offer is a simple rule to follow when you find someone else is the butt of your jokes: if you don't know when to quit, then don't play the game.
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