CHS Walks Out

Nationwide Protest Hits Home

CHS walks out in honor of victims of mass and school shootings

Left: Some students showed support for the counter-movement #walkup, in favor of outreach for troubled students. Right: CHS students register to vote during the walkout demonstration.

Students gather to hear remarks from the organizers.

Photos by: Paul Celeri

Kaya Sedlmayer

Staff Writer Students at Coeur d’Alene High School joined thousands across the nation with a walkout protesting gun violence on March 14 at 10 am The event coincided with the onemonth anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Roughly 150 students gathered in Jordan Court to listen to speeches given by organizers Ashley Romanowski and Annika Silk, who both plan to attend NIC after graduation, pursuing degrees in political science and microbiology, respectively. “We want to show our government that something has to change,” Silk said. “Enough is enough.” While 17 minutes were originally allotted for the walkout, Coeur d’Alene High School students were given half an hour to complete their tasks. After the speech, students were given the opportunity to fill out voter registration cards and write letters to Congress. Perceived inaction on the part of Congress concerning gun violence prompted students to organize nationwide. Romanowski said she heard about the movement through social media and decided to plan an event in Coeur d’Alene. District 271 and the high school administration were supportive of the demonstration. Superintendent Stan Olson said that the district recognizes the students’ constitutional rights for peaceful assembly and free expression. “We welcome the opportunity to work with any student or student group to discuss appropriate ways to express their views while at school,” Olson said. “Our intent is to support their rights and ensure their safety.” According to the organizers, the objective of the walkout was not to endorse a total ban on guns, but to bring attention to gun violence in schools and promote increased measures to prevent future school shootings. They want the government to require mental health evaluations and for schools to implement stronger anti-bullying policies. “We want things like background checks that are universal across all states because right now, they’re federally required for places like Walmart, Cabela’s, North 40, but private dealers may or may not be required,” Romanowski said. “That way, we know everyone’s following the same law.” A group of parents and retired teachers stood outside the school, live-streaming to Facebook and holding a sign showing their support for students. One of the supporters, Paula Meyling, said that she admired the students for taking control and using their voices. City of Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White was also in attendance. Some students who joined in the walkout wore shirts that appeared to support the #WalkUp hashtag, which advocates the idea of “walking up” and engaging with students who appear to be bullied or troubled, rather than walking out. A counter protest was held at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, where some gathered to show their support for the Second Amendment. “I think that it’s great that the kids are exercising their rights on both sides,” said CHS graduate Galen Jones. “I’m really proud of the school district for allowing them to do this.”

A CHS student displays a sign during the demonstration.

Photo by: Paul Celeri

My Week of Woman Crushes NIC ’s The Sentinel staff travels to New York City for 2018 College Media Association C onf erence When I travelled to New York City for the College Media Association 2018 Conference this last March, I had high hopes for my education. I was extremely excited to learn from the best and brightest in journalism and design. The icing on the cake of my experience was all the amazing women I was had the chance to learn from. Each and every one of them inspired me to work harder and be better. Shazna Nessa, Visuals Editor of The Wall Street Journal, left me star-struck and speechless by her presentation on design. I got a chance to ask her thoughts on design and redesign. “When do I stop changing what I’ve created? When do I know it’s enough?” Nessa replied by encouraging me to simplify and not over-design. Vogue Senior Designer Ivana Cruz was by far my biggest woman crush of the week. During her presentation, Cruz defined design as someRebecca Pratt Magazine Editor thing to have fun and be loose with. She presented out-of-the-box ideas to get our minds working and gears turning. She also showed some past designs that she struggled with. In her session, alongside her childhood friend and fellow designer Carlos Mella, creative lead at Bloomberg, she showed some past designs that she struggled with. Her lecture mainly focused on sacrifices designers have to make. Both Cruz and Mella agreed that research was key when creating a design, which wasn’t previously a large part of my process. After implementing some of Cruz’s suggestions, it’s no surprise that I have already noticed a difference in my design strategies. I want to be her when I grow up. Designers were not the only women to make an impact. Joanne Lipman, author of That’s What She Said, began her career in the male-dominated world of publishing and editing, and served as the first female managing editor of The Wall Street Journal. Her new book explores the sexism that has been ingrained in our daily lives, both in and outside the workplace. In Lipman’s book, she writes about the need to include men in the conversation about sexism. By only talking with women “we only solve half the problem.” Lipman drove home the point that the one-sided conversation has gotten old and has proven to be ineffective when solving the whole problem. While there was many more small moments that made me feel empowered during my time spent in New York, I came away with a real appreciation for the guidance of women who want to see each other succeed.