Spark asks for Day of Silence

Rainbow ribbons tied around the wrists of silent student activists signify an awareness campaign about injustice.

Michael Crusoe, President of SCC's Spark, formerly known as the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transsexual Straight Alliance club, said, "Day of Silence is an event that occurs in middle schools, high schools, colleges and universities around the nation. It's a way for people to pay attention to a variety of issues."

Although the national Day of Silence is held on April 17, Spark decided to participate on Thursday April 16 to ensure that greater numbers of students would be on campus.

According to Crusoe, middle schools and high schools participate with an anti-bullying agenda. To them, the Day of Silence highlights the fact that people are silenced by the actions and attitudes of others such as harassment, name-calling and physical abuse.

This type of bullying is provoked by actual or perceived gender orientation, sexual orientation or gender expression.

Crusoe's agenda was a bit different, saying, "We want to bring attention to that creative, expressive, academic and intellectual silence that can result from society's presumptions about how people should act and should be."

Crusoe feels that people should be free to figure out who they are and express themselves without feeling pressured or abnormal.

Jared Ziedarth, a sophomore and a member of Spark, said that the event is meant to honor and respect one another and to recognize those who are brave enough to live their lives openly.

"It's a celebration of being an individual and staying true to who you are on the inside," said Ziedarth.

Jamie Wagner, Vice President of Spark and first time participant in Day of Silence feels that those who openly oppose the awareness campaign are speaking out of ignorance.

Wagner said, "People are afraid of what they don't understand. They don't understand because they aren't around it." Adding, "Anytime you have segregation you're going to have fear and hate."

Crusoe said, "I've found this campus to be very tolerant and interested in other people's viewpoints. It's always been a place of learning about many different cultures."

To Wagner, the Day of Silence gives her a chance to stand up for beliefs even if they are unpopular. She said, "We're people too and we deserve civil rights just like everyone else. Who we have sex with and who we date has nothing to do with who we are."