JANUARY IS. 2007 lUStQUt 15
northwest
No Name Calling
Props for the Project
outhridge High School was once at the cen­
S
ter of a nationally staged debate about cul­
tural attitudes toward sexuality and hate crime.
The community would have missed out on
Southridge High School says thanks for the support
seeing the drama department’s production of
by Malka Geffen
The Laramie Project had it not been for the
he Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education
decided to change things up this time by showing their
Network
(GLSEN) created No Name
gratitude to supportive adults who, in the past, paid
Willis, who went to the mat for the play
Calling Week, held Jan. 22 to 26 this year, to
attention to name calling and put a stop to it or
against a resistant administration, is now being
help schools end name calling of all kinds
educated students about its harm.
honored with a diversity award from the city of
T
and eliminate bullying. Now in its fourth
tenacity of theater arts director Wade Willis.
“We talked about how it feels when they ignore a
Beaverton’s
year, the week of education and activities student
gives who is being teased, perhaps even take part in
Human
Rights
Advisory
Commission.
students the opportunity to thank the teachers and
Adam Griffin, treasurer of the Southridge GSA,
it themselves, and generally let you down by not being
calls for no dissing during No Name Calling Week.
supportive, coming to your rescue or being there for
staff who have helped head off homeroom harassment.
you,” Griffin said. At their Jan. 11 GSA meeting, the
interested in diversity activities. Many are selling the
ommendation of a committee created to review
To prepare for No Name Calling Week at their
students wrote to teachers at Southridge as well.
'Erase Hate’ wristbands available from the Matthew
the play’s value and evaluate its appropriateness.
Jan. 4 meeting, GSA members watched the DVD The
“Sometimes it’s really hard to keep standing up to the
Shepard Foundation.”
The Laramie Project is a documentary-style play
Misfits. According to the project’s Web site, the film is
put-downs,” said Griffin. “But we do have phenomenal
According to district spokeswoman Maureen
based on James Howe’s book about four best friends try­
teachers who put the well-being of their students as
Wheeler, GSAs are considered noncurricular, non­
ing to survive the seventh grade in the face of all-too-
their top priority, and you can see the difference it
sanctioned groups by the Beaverton School District
“My focus as an educator was to help create
frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelli­
makes in kids’ lives.”
and cannot make presentations to other students dur­
compassionate, loving and empathetic human
ing the school day. GLSEN Oregon is therefore work­
beings. When 1 read The Laramie Project, it was
Southridge High School’s Gay Straight Alliance
gence and sexual orientation or gender expression.
During No Name Calling Week, Southridge’s
Students performed two sold-out shows in
May 2006, after the district deferred to the rec­
about the brutal murder of gay student Matthew
Shepard in Laramie, Wyo.
“There are excellent sections in it where a social
GSA students will staff a table in the cafeteria where
ing to reach kids at the middle school and elementary
immediately clear to me that this was such a
worker speaks about how names attack your core iden­
they’ll encourage others to write a note to a teacher,
levels, who are particularly vulnerable to bullying, by
profound educational opportunity for the stu­
tity, and it stresses that name calling is often an attack
staff person or administrator who made them feel
notifying librarians statewide about displaying books
dents and myself,” said Willis.
on attributes about yourself over which you have no
respected. These letters will be bundled and sent to
appropriate to the week’s theme and sending postcards
Willis, who was part of the original
control—like race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orien­
the schools where that adult was last known to have
Southridge staff, resigned over the district’s han­
tation—so since this is so much of your identity, you
worked. Students will also be wearing “No sticks, no
to all middle schools in Oregon to encourage their
participation in No Name Calling Week. ©
begin to feel that these names are you,” said Esther
stones, no dissing” stickers during the week and post­
Griffin, a GSA mom, former Southridge employee
ing hand-colored posters with the same message
Far a No N ame C alling W eek resource kit, including
and GLSEN Oregon advisory board member.
around the school.
the DVD, resource guide, copy of The Misfits and
According to Griffin, the GSA held a large
Oregon Safe Schools and Communities Coalition
“1 pledge to refrain from anti-GLBT bullying, and to
dling of the production. He is the co-artistic
director for Staged!, a Portland theater compa­
ny, and is pursuing his own performing interests.
Willis will be honored for his contributions
posters and stickers, visit www. nonamecallingweek.org.
to human rights and diversity 6:30 p.m. Jan. 22
chairwoman Joyce Liljeholm said she is not aware of
Educators and parents interested in joining GLSEN
stop it when 1 can” campaign last October for Ally
other area GSAs participating in No Name Calling
Oregon can contact the chapter hy e-mailing
at Beaverton City Hall, 4755 S.W. Griffith
Drive. ©
Week, another GLSEN-promoted event. The students
Week. “I am aware of more middle schools becoming
glsen@ghenoregon.org.
—Jaymee R. Cuti
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