Following the recent events that took place in Florida at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, students around the nation have opted to participate in a walkout on March 14 at 10 AM across all time zones. The movement originates from EMPOWER, the youth branch of the Women’s March. The walkout will last seventeen minutes, remembering the seventeen victims of the Florida shooting.  

Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) President senior Olivia Taylor will be orchestrating a local walkout at Iola High School. Taylor said, “Many kids in our school don’t think about the world around them, and don’t care that children are dying across the U.S. I just wanted them to see that they can do something, and maybe even change someone’s mind.”

IHS principal, Scott Crenshaw is supportive of the walk out as a means of protest. “We are going to support, one-hundred percent, the student walkout concerning school safety. We are even going to take it one-step further, and walk around the square, so the community sees that the students have concerns. We’re trying to make it a really positive social interaction, and trying to use it as a learning opportunity for students to realize that they do have a voice, and that social reform can come about by peacefully voicing your concerns or opinions,” said Crenshaw.

As expected, students around campus are divided on the issue. “I think there [are] better ways to protest than by taking kids out of school when they should be getting educated,” said junior Blake Haar. Obviously, not every student shares this outlook. “I think the walkout is a very different and cool way to protest, and I’m curious to see the turnout,” said senior Mea Delatorre.

   SADD will be having a preparation session on Tuesday for anyone interested in making posters for the walkout during seminar. Any students with questions can contact Olivia Taylor or Sloan Geddry, officers of SADD.