National “spread the word to end the word” day
Rise students, Sado Ali, Destiny Saengkio, Alex Rust, Antonio Humann, Lane Zufelt, Jack Salestrom and Noah Epling hold up the poster that many LHS students signed to pledge not using the ‘R’ word. The group had a table set up in the lunchroom during lunch and handed out bracelets to students who were eating. Austin Farr (green shirt)
March 7, 2018
A word that is thrown around today is equality. It is a layered word, which many people have fought for over the years. Another word that can be thrown around without knowing it’s negative implications is the ‘R’ word, and students at LHS are trying to make known that using that word is unacceptable.
Today is “Spread the Word Day” around the nation, and the LHS Rise students are working to make sure students are aware. Their goal is to end the use of the “R” word. There was a poster in the lunchroom that students could sign to pledge not to use the word, and RISE students handed out bracelets that stated “Be honest. Be humble. STWTETW (Spread the Word to End the Word).”
“I am here to spread the Word to End the Word. I’m passing out bracelets and the grey ones seem to be very popular,” said senior Noah Eppling.
The day is sponsored by the Special Olympics every year on the same day. Their goal is for each year to make more people aware of why the “R” word is offensive.
“Our campaign asks people to pledge to stop saying the ‘R’ word as a starting point toward creating more accepting attitudes and communities for all people. Language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions. Pledge today to use respectful, people-first language,” said a spokesperson from Special Olympics.
To make your pledge, go to https://www.r-word.org, or sign the poster that will be hanging up in the administration foyer. As of right now, the website has 741,330 people that have pledged, and that is not including the students that signed the poster.
