April 3-16, 2018
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DEMONSTRATING OPINION
STUDENTS SPEAK BY WALKING OUT — OR NOT More than 200 SYHS students participate in national walk-out over gun violence, while others remain in the gym By Raiza Giorgi and Kyah Corff news@santaynezvalleystar.com
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Photos by Daniel Dreifuss Senior Bella Manfreda speaks about the victims of the mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., during a student walkout March 14 at Santa Ynez High School.
n the one-month anniversary of the mass shooting of high school students on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla., more than 200 students at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School took part in a national walk-out in their memory. Students Kiara Costarelli, Jordan Whitney, Bella Manfreda, Sofia Caciola and Olivia Horvath created and led the local walk-out in collaboration with the SYVUHS administration. “We deserve to feel safe at school. Now is the time to start holding our officials accountable and do research to form our own opinions. We are scared and angry, but we aren’t
powerless,” said Sofia, a senior who spoke during the peaceful protest on March 14. “I think everyone can agree that schools should be a safe space, but how to go about that … there’s a lot of different opinions and ideas, from gun control to mental health. It’s sad that the issues have become so politicized, but hopefully there will be a solution. I believe that is what our students are trying to accomplish,” said Principal Mark Swanitz. During the walk-out, Bella read the names of the 17 people who died in the shooting and a brief biography of each one. Meanwhile, a group of students who decided not to participate in the walk-out stayed in the Old Gym during the 17-minute demonstration. “I believe we should have more gun safety, but this issue is also about mental health and bullying. We should be talking about that first,” said Pachomio Lopez, 15, a sophomore at the high school. Pachomio added that he came to SYHS from Bakersfield. He said SYHS for the most part is mellow, and he doesn’t think there is as much bullying as in Bakersfield. “I feel really awful for what happened to those students in Florida, and students should WALK OUT CONTINUED ON PAGE 27
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