Reporter ISSAQUAH | SAMMAMISH
Friday, March 29, 2013
www.issaquahreporter.com
Seat filled Meryweather named to Issaquah School Board
University of Oregon sophomore Samantha Stendal was back in Sammamish this week after creating a video relating to the Stubenville rape case. Her video, which had 1.4 million hits as of Wednesday morning, focused on how someone should treat an unconscious person. KEVIN
BY LINDA BALL LBALL@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
ENDEJAN, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter
MESSAGE DELIVERED
Skyline grad Samantha Stendal’s video goes viral, has 1.4 million views and counting BY KEVIN ENDEJAN KENDEJAN@ISSAQUAHREPORTER.COM
W
ith every story she read about the much publicized Stubenville, Ohio rape trial, Samantha Stendal grew more and more frustrated.
“Honestly, just seeing the Internet’s reaction to it, just how everyone was saying ‘she could have done this differently, she could have that differently,’ I just wanted to say ‘no, the victim shouldn’t have been raped in the first place,’” said Stendal, 19. The 2011 Skyline High School graduate and sophomore at the University of Oregon jumped into action, joining with other film club members to create a different message. Under Stendal’s direction, the group put together a 26-second video clip titled “A Needed Response” — a public service announcement portraying how others should behave when someone passes out. Stendal created the video March 20 and immediately uploaded it to YouTube. Two
‘A NEEDED RESPONSE’ Watch Samantha Stendal’s viral video by going to YouTube and searching for “A Needed Response.” days later, it was put on Upworthy.com where it caught fire. Stendal received calls from regional news organizations in Portland and Seattle followed by a call from CNN. On Saturday, video views were up to 400,000 and by Wednesday were more than 1.4 million. “I was not expecting the reaction, but I’m glad we’re changing the discussion from what she should have done better to how we should be taking care of someone in that situation,” Stendal said. The video features a male actor, who stands in front of the camera with a girl passed out on the couch behind him. He starts by looking at the camera and saying, “guess what I’m going to do to her.” The actor proceeds to get the girl a pillow and a blanket, followed by a glass of water, ending with the line “real men treat women with respect.” “The message, I have to say, is respect one
another, rape is never OK,” said Stendal, a Cinema Studies major. “My story is specifically about a guy and a girl, but no matter what gender, you should respect each other’s bodies and respect each other’s rights to their bodies.” Stendal has read some of the YouTube comments surrounding her video, noting many people just comment to stir up controversy. However, she is pleased with the overall reaction. “It makes me laugh when I see someone saying ‘there should have been a bucket, you should have taken care of it this way,’ ” Stendal said. “That’s good, that’s the discussion that I want to happen.” Stendal, who is back in Sammamish on spring break, said she is unsure what kind of attention the video will garner next. Different organizations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have contacted her for permission to use it. “I have no idea where it’s going to go next, I’m just happy people are taking an interest,” she said. Assistant editor Kevin Endejan can be reached at 425-391-0363, ext. ext. 5054
Alison Meryweather was the victor to fill the Issaquah School board seat vacated by Chad Magendanz. Meryweather will still have to earn the voter’s approval in November, when the term ends. Meryweather and Lisa Callan were the two remaining candidates at the March 20 special Alison meeting Meryweather of the ISD board of directors. “This is a very different dynamic, having everything public and podcast,” she said, comparing it to other boards she has served on. Callan and Meryweather were the two who remained after the March 6 meeting when five candidates were interviewed. With only four members on the board to vote – Marnie Maraldo, Anne Moore, Suzanne Weaver and Brian Deagle – the vote was split after a lengthy executive session. Maraldo and Moore were in favor of Meryweather, with Weaver and Deagle voting for Callan. “It’s a testament to how qualified these last two candidates are that we split,” Deagle said. On a second round of voting, Maraldo, Moore and Weaver were not willing to change their vote, but Deagle did, awarding the seat to Meryweather. Callan does not know yet if she will challenge Meryweather in the November election.