Tuesday, May 21, 2013

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Standing up to bullying
Posted: 02.19.2013 at 7:45 AM
Abby Miller

Iron Mountain Bureau Reporter

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IRON MOUNTAIN -- Bullying comes in many different forms, and the fact is: it's wrong. For years, people have been trying to find the best solution to this issue, yet it continues to run rampant in our schools.

So what can be done? Well, a group of students at Iron Mountain High School are trying their best to figure out how to curb the problem. On Wednesday, they gave a presentation to students that highlighted the warning signs of bullying.

Senior Ashley Berger, one of the four students who initiated the anti-bullying committee, explains its importance.

“The five of us started meeting about mid-December, and we've been meeting every other Wednesday,” said Berger. “I feel that this would allow them (students) to get a better understanding of who they can go to and what they can do if they see bullying or any other situation in the school."

Some of the ways that they’re trying to combat bullying is through a mentor program that pairs freshman and seniors together for accountability, as well as an anonymous bullying hotline which alerts administrators in school.

Senior Max Frorenza, who attended the seminar, is excited about the initiatives.

“I think the hotline is a great idea for people who want to talk but don't want their name to be out, so if they leave an anonymous tip, that's good,” said Frorenza.

Another issue the students addressed was cyber-bullying. Do Something.org records that 75 percent of students say they’ve visited a website that bashes another student.

Ashley thinks overall the committee’s ideas can help the problem.

“I believe it is important to be a part of this committee," she said, “because it will help me reach out to those kids who do get bullied."

And while bullying isn't an issue that can be resolved overnight, it takes a courageous person to stand up and say:  enough is enough.

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