Students, Faculty, And Alumni Of Connecticut High School Push Back Against Anonymous Anti-Gay Twitter Feed

In Connecticut, The Ridgefield Press reports that a pro-tolerance backlash by Ridgefield High School students and graduates resulted in an anti-gay Twitter account being promptly taken down this week. “Twitter messages were sent out by Ridgefield High School students titled ‘RHSfagoftheday,’ ” Superintendent Deborah Low said in a memorandum to Board of Education Tuesday. “The online behaviour is disturbing and unacceptable. As educators, it is frightening to hear about cyber-bullying because we know what tragic impacts it can have. It is distressing to witness the level of ridicule and intolerance and it is unfathomable that some people use hateful and demeaning language. The behaviour and values expressed represent the worst in people. From what I know, yesterday’s tweets about ‘RHSfagoftheday’ were taken down last night. This was apparently in response to the overwhelming outrage and criticism expressed by Ridgefield High School students and graduates. The number of people who immediately banded together to express their outrage is heartening and impressive.” Ms. Low also said the Twitter account appeared to be part of a series of tasteless tweets under names such as RHSbabewatch, RHSDailyQueer, and RHSstudoftheday. With young people electronically connected, outrage at the anti-gay Twitter quickly spread from RHS students to recent graduates away at college. Within a day a Facebook page had been established in opposition to the online intolerance, and had the support of more than 1,200 students by Tuesday night. Kiera Bloch, a student at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, described how she and Holly Walker, both 2011 RHS graduates, became involved in the effort. “We decided to try and get some students, both current and graduated, behind us in sending letters to administration voicing our concern around these twitters and around cyber bullying in general,” she told The Press. “We began with drafting a message to send out to as many people as we could via Facebook. We explained the situation, our feelings about it, and then asked anyone who was in support to post their name to be added as an addendum to a letter we would later put together to send to Mr. Jaslow, Ms. Low, and other members of the Board of Education, as well as several RHS teachers. The response was enormous. “In order to better organize supporters we created a Facebook group entitled ‘Southern Connecticut Highschools: An End to Cyber Bullying.’ In less than 24 hours we have over 1,000 members in this group. Members included current and graduated RHS students, as well as students from other schools in Connecticut and even some in Massachusetts. There are also several parents who have joined the group in support of a zero-tolerance policy regarding cyber bullying. Basically, we’ve all been bullied, or known someone who’s been bullied in some way, shape, or form in our experience in the Ridgefield Public Schools,” Ms. Block wrote. “Even as alumnae, Holly and I have a commitment to make RHS a safe place for everyone despite what they look like and despite their sexualities.” A second Facebook group — called Students Against Internet Discrimination: An End to Cyber-Bullying’ — took up the mantle, broadening the geographic base of the online movement. Devi Lockwood, a 2010 RHS graduate, wrote to The Press from Harvard, where she is a sophomore: “High school is a time of transition for everyone. I am disgusted that any one teen in my hometown would somehow think that it is OK to channel their own insecurities into bashing others on the Internet,” she said. “RHS students, faculty, and staff members: please use this as an opportunity to reach out to all your students. Let’s counteract hatred with conversation.” Opposition to the name-calling Twitter also grew among current students at the high school. In his blog ‘17-year-old thoughts,’ RHS student Adam Huet wrote of how students had turned the tables on the intolerant Twitter author. “How does it feel now? To be the center of attention because you are different?” he asked. In a response to the blog entry, one poster agreed that the Twitter author was “wrong, very wrong” but added, “There is now bitter irony, in that the kid who was the culprit of cyber-bullying is now being cyber-bullied by 100s of kids ganging up on him...” RHS student Brendan Moriarity said that High School Principal Jeff Jaslow’s announcement concerning the offensive Twitter had a visible impact on students. “When Mr. Jaslow spoke of it in school,” he said, “every kid in my class couldn’t believe it and had looks of disgust on their face.” Mr. Jaslow also addressed the problem in a letter sent to students and parents at home by e-mail. “We have been made aware of a Twitter account of a highly offensive nature that was posted,” he wrote, adding that it “apparently was taken down in short order following a very rapid and strong backlash from significant numbers of students and alumni. “Additionally, we have learned of other Twitter accounts posted by RHS students that are offensive, demeaning and otherwise highly inappropriate. The high school administration is aggressively investigating this matter,” Mr. Jaslow wrote. “I am gratified to see the overwhelming response on the part of our students and graduates to this appalling behaviour, and want to assure everyone in our community that these actions will not be tolerated and that there is no place for the attitudes reflected by these actions in Ridgefield High School. It is our goal and commitment to ensure that every student at RHS feels safe, comfortable and valued.” Superintendent Low said in her memo that the school system would follow up the incident in a few ways. “Our faculty and staff will conduct a thorough investigation and respond as strongly as possible: there is no tolerance for such abhorrent behaviour,” she said. “We will also communicate our support and concern for the victims. As some parents have noted, this is a ‘teachable’ moment and we will address the bullying and harassment issues throughout advisory program, classes and student life activities. We will partner with the PTSA as well. “Our present and former students spoke out against injustice and stood up for what is right,” Ms. Low concluded. “The voices of tolerance and respect were louder than the voices of intolerance and cruelty. I applaud and thank these students.”