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Can't get a word in With midterm elections approaching, students and staff discuss advocacy and modern politics seamus keegan and josephine mittelberger
page editor and guest editor
The sun’s rays shone through the trees of Crown Point near the courthouse just as they do every June, but this time, the sidewalks were flooded with people demonstrating their opposition to Senate Bill 1—the first bill since the overturning of Roe v. Wade that would ban abortion. One of the faces in the crowd was Tara Gaither, junior, who held a sign reading “pro life is a lie, you don’t care if women die.” “Seeing everyone fighting for their rights and the idea of putting my opinion out there with a ton of people that agree with me was really empowering,” Tara said. “Even when people came by to flip us off, we just yelled right back at them. It was really nice to have that sense of community.” With midterms approaching, potential for change opens all around—new representatives alongside possible new policies. However, most students cannot vote yet, despite many laws directly affecting those under 18. Just like every vote, every voice matters. Students do not have to sit in silence when they see bills they disagree with pass—signing petitions, going to rallies and creating accessible information for others is something that is viable for students. “There's this idea that we're just kids that don't have to care because we can't vote. But there's a lot of stuff that we can do that isn't just voting,” Paul Harkenrider, sophomore, said. “Big businesses can really be influenced by student movements. We can make a big change if we group together, and we're the ones who can change history.” The large majority of high school students are quite hesitant to advocate politically. According to PRNewswire, only 32% of teens educate friends or family about a cause, and only 8% have ever boycotted a company in response to an injustice. Whether it is just a general ignorance of the problems students face today or a fear of retaliation, only a small percentage of teens talk about any political issues, online or in-person. Mr. Michael Gordon, government teacher, has noticed his students move away from an interest in broad political parties, towards specific interest groups and political opinions. “A trend away from broad belonging into small factions. And that’s not necessarily good or bad, it just is. We tend to target specifics rather than the bigger picture,” Mr. Gordon said.
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DROWNED OUT Sharing their opinions, sophomores Paul Harkenrider and Addy Ellis and Thomas Ashcraft, senior, pose for a picture. The statements on each of their shirts are either a direct quote from an interview or a summary of their beliefs. (illustration by damien salahieh)
october 21, 2022 volume 59 issue 3