OKLAHOMA CITY — OU students stood with an Oklahoma City student group at the Capitol to kick off a campaign against bullying.
Public relations junior Devin Newsom said he started working with the student group Upward Bound, hosted at OSU-OKC, over the summer to start and promote a campaign against bullying in schools. Upward Bound kicked off the campaign at the State Capitol yesterday at 7 p.m.
“This was just a summer project we took under our wing and help get off the ground,” Newsom said.
“Stand for the Silent” was created when Upward Bound students decided to take on the problem of bullying after 11-year-old Ty Smalley committed suicide, Newsom said. The Oklahoma City “Stand for the Silent” vigil was modeled after ones like at the Capitols around the world in Ireland, Wales, Australia, and South Africa.
Upward Bound Western Heights senior Ariel Henderson began the vigil with name of Smalley and the day he died, May 13.
During the vigil, students in the program began to read off more names of their peers who have committed suicide due to bullying. They gave each student a moment of silence. Smalley’s father, Kirk Smalley, spoke to the crowd and thanked them for their support.
He said issues like money or the climate don’t mean anything when children are dying. People responded with signing love in sign language.
“I will fight bullying forever because my son will be 11-years-old forever,” Kirk said, ending his speech.
Afterward, parents and participants joined Kirk and offered words of encouragement and their own stories about their children.
Kirk hugged the students of all ages and shared his own words of encouragement.
Upward Bound Director Francie Moss said Upward Bound began the anti-bullying campaign on July 11 with the creation of a Facebook page. She said as soon as the page went up, it had 2,900 fans.
Moss said the students in Upward Bound have a goal of reaching students from their respective high schools: Putnam City West, Western Heights, and Northwest Classen.
“Their goal set is to be completely thru their schools at the end of the year,” Moss said.
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