Students Voice Concerns on Safety
There are certain members of the Rockbridge County High School student body who claim to be the victims of sexual harassment on RCHS property. Students claim that situations arise more at school events/times than what most people are aware of. One student raising awareness is STAND Co-Leader Arden Courtney-Collins.
“There are a lot of people at this school who get taken advantage of,” said Courtney-Collins. “I think most people aren’t even aware of sexual harassment when its happening.”
To give students a place to voice their concerns a student club called STAND, which is dedicated to tolerance and respect within RCHS, created an instagram page called speakuproco. On this page there were numerous accounts about vulgar comments being made in the halls of RCHS, people getting away with inappropriate touching on school trips, and one specific account addressed how people sometimes go to sports practices to look at the athletes. While there are many testimonies on this account, there also seems to be an issue with people getting help. STAND Co-Creator and Senior Luci Hanstedt voices her take on the situation.
“The school has good intentions, but there are a lot of students who are really scared,” said Hanstedt. “It is not easy to approach the administration with issues and that is part of the problem because it should not be so hard to get help.”
Despite the struggle shared by students looking for support, there are policies in place to protect students in terms of sexual harassment found on page 26 of the RCHS student handbook stating
“Any unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other inappropriate verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. (Can be a reportable offense to law enforcement). This includes saying or writing either directly or through electronic communication sexual suggestive comments, innuendos, proposition , or other remarks of a sexual nature.”
In response to students being uncomfortable and unaware of the resources available to them Principal Doctor Craft shared what his thoughts on the issue were.
“As an administrator and a school body we always do our best to take care of our students.” said Craft. “The faculty wants to help students and be there for them, but we cant do anything if they don’t tell us, but we have more available to them then I think they realize.”
One specific resource the school has is Bullying Reported and Violence Eradicated (BRAVE). Doctor Angie Wilder, the creator of BRAVE stated what the program was.
“BRAVE is a resource for any student struggling with any type of bullying and that includes sexual harassment.” said Wilder. “Students should stop treating the program like its a joke, and its unfortunate that they do that, because when they do they discredit BRAVE and it could prevent students in need for getting the support they are looking for.”
For students looking to utilize the school’s resources here are some links.
BRAVE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxvQhafa5nQoxrH3yJJvLm27nMRIjR6mIBja8WGtcBxjMluA/viewform
RCHS Counseling Office: https://sites.google.com/rockbridge.k12.va.us/schoolcounseling
Senior Blake Darmante is a third-year member of The Prowler staff. In Journalism lll he is looking forward to the epic final chapter that will be his senior year and working alongside his little sister, Hallie Darmante, who thinks she can steal his position. Outside of class, Darmante is a part of the National Honor Society, Student Council Association, FORENSICS, and the RCHS lacrosse team. His influences/role models include the legends that are Bruce Lee, Dwayne “The Rock'' Johnson, and Mr. Gallagher. The majority of Darmante’s free time is spent in his sketchy basement honing his martial arts skills while also listening to a Spotify playlist of his called, Zen Hype. Darmante has recently started a number of new endeavors like learning the splits from Jean-Claude Van Damme and making movies with the Original Wildcat Weekly Poll Guy, his best buddy, Dylan Hostetter. Darmante survives off of dumplings, matcha, and most importantly, the All-Star Special at Waffle House. Future plans for Darmante involve him competing on American Ninja Warrior, taking a trip to the Philippines to become a certified “escrimador,” and slow-dancing the night away with a dynamite gal.
