Welcome to the Winter 2017-2018 edition of the Campitor! As the second trimester comes to a close, we look back on our accomplishments of the past few months: seniors wait for college decisions, previous club events are successful, and the winter sports season comes to a close. We also look forward, as we continue our Vegetarian Voice series, welcome exchange students, and start up our advice column for the next edition. As always, thanks to our editing staff, Taylor Timinskas, Cate Pitterle, Princess Bernard-Oti, and Danielle Carr, and our faculty advisor, Ms. Buie, for their hard work on every edition.

On a more serious note, I want to address the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week from the perspective of a student. It broke my heart to watch more people die, teens whose lives were so similar to ours, and for a few days, I felt scared to come to school; I was afraid my right to learn in a safe environment could easily be violated. But worst of all was that the shooting didn’t shock me. At first, it was just another preventable tragedy, 17 more deaths at the 291st school shooting of the past five years. At 18, I should not be desensitized to tragedies like these – no one should. And it makes me absolutely furious that this has begun to be normalized.

Listening to Marjory Stoneman Douglas students speak out – on television, in writing, even on Twitter – has given me faith in the power of student voices .We are the first generation to grow up with social media; communicating and calling others to action is second nature.  Our generation is coming of age in a wildly turbulent cultural and political climate, but we have seen that social movements really can affect change.

My request to you, our readers, parents or students, is simple: get involved. Write, speak out, protest, about what you believe in. We have platforms on which to speak our minds, and we have the power to create platforms for ourselves and for others who do not. Our voices do have an impact.

Thanks,

Hope Ferris (’18)

Editor-in-Chief