GCC Hosts Rodemeyer Family at Special Anti-Bullying Event Featuring "Change A Life" Panel Discussion

November 29th Event Free and Open to the Public

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Anti-Bullying Board at GCC

BATAVIA, NY (11/22/2011)(readMedia)-- This fall semester, two diverse student clubs at Genesee Community College joined forces to stop bullying. The Gay-Straight-Alliance and Christian Students United are working together to stop the heinous crime, which they define as an intentional repetitive assault on another person who is either defenseless and/or holds less power.

The combined efforts of these two organizations have resulted in a three phase, semester long anti-bullying campaign, the culmination of which is the "Stop Bullying – Change A Life" Information Session and Panel Discussion on Tuesday, Nov. 29 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the Forum of the Batavia Campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Featured speakers for the panel discussion include:

• Tim and Tracy Rodemeyer – the parents of Jamey Rodemeyer

• Lisa Barrett – prevention educator

• Jeannie Burdick – GCC counselor

• Todd Crossett – Batavia Police detective

• Christopher Dailey – Principal, Batavia High School

• Alyssa Cole – GCC student

• Daniel Monacelli – Principal, Carl I. Bergerson Middle School (Albion)

• Michele Oehlbeck – parent and GCC student

In Phase I of the campaign, a campus bullying simulation was implemented through flyers posted around campus that were horrible to look at and to read. Some of the posters were torn down, defaced and created a disturbance in the campus community. Organizers expected this and were glad it happened because it facilitated Phase II of the campaign.

During Phase II, the posters and flyers were suddenly and intentionally removed over night, simulating what often occurs in many institutions when complaints regarding bullying are brought up. Instead of being fully addressed, the complaints are ignored, hidden and/or put aside.

Phase III of the campaign is now in action and includes a mobile "bullying board" located in the college's cafeteria. The board continues to raise awareness and educate the community regarding what can be done to stop bullying and provide a location where many views may be expressed.

"Bullying hurts everyone," said Candice Faulring, assistant professor of Psychology and the

faculty advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance. "The GSA and CSU may disagree on a lot, however, we realize that some issues are much bigger than our individual points of view and require that we take action and find solutions together. Our groups have done much more than find common-ground or tolerate each other, we have formed friendships."

GCC's Gay-Straight-Alliance and Christian Students United clubs partnered on this anti-bullying campaign to stop bullying by helping all facets of the college community understand what it is, how it is different from other types of conflicts, and most importantly, how to step in when one sees it happening. Tuesday's information session and panel discussion featuring well-known figures in the local anti-bullying scene, is an important initiative to make this happen.

According to GCC's Anti-Bullying Campaign officials: "The time for passivity is over. In order for bullying to end there must be a cultural shift regarding the way we treat one another. This shift must include a willingness to become educated about what bullying is, the commitment to openly and transparently discuss difficult issues, and most importantly the resolve to take action when opportunities are presented. We hope everyone will attend this information session and do their part to stop bullying."