Some students and teachers across the country will participate in a “walkout” protest in response to school shootings March 14, the Citrus College Academic Senate discussed how faculty can handle the situation in different ways.
Academic Senate sent an email March 13 informing faculty that a protest may happen, what to expect and how to prepare for students leaving class.
Protesters plan to walk out of class at 10 a.m. March 14 for 17 minutes. This amount of time was chosen to memorialize the 17 people who died because of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting Feb. 14 in Parkland, Florida. Protesters also aim to raise awareness for gun reform by wearing orange.
Teens For Gun Reform, an organization created by students in the Washington DC area, organized the demonstration in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting Feb. 14 in Parkland, Florida.
The Academic Senate suggested ideas for how Citrus College faculty could handle the situation, including: directing students to mental health services, dedicating those 17 minutes to an in-class discussion on the topic, or clearly stating the consequences of leaving class plainly and allowing students to make their choice.
“Of course the possibility exists but I have not really heard of many students planning to walk out,” student president Favian Fragoso said in a text, “the school understands the sentiments bit its not going to take an official stance.”
CNN arranged a FAQ concerning the legalities and concerns of protesting for those who want to participate. Students could be penalized with an unexcused absence, but the first amendment protects right to protest, Ben Wizner, principal legal advisor to Edward Snowden, and lawyer Christine Hamiel from CNN, said.
The email urged faculty to help students by directing them to the campus health center and having a conversation, if appropriate, to students emotionally affected by the current events.
“The processing of tragedy such as this is not within most of our training or skill set, but we are all human,” the email said, “For some students, taking action and walking out may be the spark that leads to a life of social engagement and civil action that will help them to lead when we are listening to Nickelback in the nursing home.”
