Has society as a whole become so numb to death and violence that after a
horrific act of disaster such as Columbine, which took place over 5 years ago we
are still losing close to 40 students a year across the country to youth
violence? Apparently so if these killings aren’t making it any further then
their local news areas. But a change is in the making and it starts with the
young people who are in schools today, it starts with people like Brandon Wolf,
a high school senior at Council Rock. It starts with young men like Billy
Hallowell, a twenty year old journalism major at Mount Saint Vincent’s college
in New York, and Richard Hoover, a twenty three old Columbine survivor who holds
public speaking events all over the country. This change that must take place
starts with youth leadership as well as events such as Peace week which has just
taken place here in Bucks County.
On May 27th Brandon, Billy, and Richard held a public speaking event at the
Bucks County Community College, as one of seven events held during Peace week in
Bucks County. At this event Richard Hoover took the time to describe his
experience with youth violence at Columbine high school. “I remember
contemplating on weather or not to leave the gym area were I was when I heard
what appeared to be fire crackers” said Hoover. The shooting took place on April
20th 1999 and for most Columbine students prank was the first thing that came to
mind. “Every year the seniors would perform a prank of some kind toward the end
of their senior year, so I thought about staying inside the school to avoid
being part of their joke.” Explained Hoover who would later use this thought to
exemplify just how unexpected this tragedy was. “It wasn’t until I got outside
the building and saw the presence of the police chief that everything started
clicking” said Hoover who described being overwhelmed by parents and peers in
search of still unaccounted for loved ones. The police had evacuated everyone to
a nearby library down the street and it was there that Richard was reunited with
his mother who had feared the worst. “I think that’s when things really set in
for me, when my mom tackled me to the ground with tears and sighs of relief;
because I had gone to school and made it out alive.” Repeats Richard who is
trying to really enforce just how crazy it sounds, going to school and possibly
not returning alive.
For Billy Hallowell this idea sounded crazy as well but for a level headed 16
year old this was his reality, the world we live in. This was not a movie it was
CNN, these were not actors simulating death, these were young boys and girls
being murdered for going to school. As Billy came to terms with this he decided
he would not just follow in suit and ignore what was going on in the world
around him, he would instead become a leader in fighting for peace to encourage
a change in the world he lived in.
When I asked Billy what I could do to help in the effort toward peace he replied
“what can’t you do. You are a leader and leaders guide people. There is nothing
I love more than to see young people leading other young people toward more
peaceful solutions.” Billy is leading thousands of young people on a web site
that he designed called www.teenwebonline.com and it was here that he first
became in contact with Richard Hoover. After exchanging thoughts via the
Internet they decided to meet one another to further expand on their ideas. As a
result of their newfound friendship they have been performing at public speaking
events across the country and now have popped on the radar screen of young high
school activist Brandon Wolf.
Brandon Wolf is the founder of an organization called S.A.V.E. “R” US (Students
Against Violence Everywhere “R” Us) and is an intelligent well read young man.
It was his persistence and relentless efforts that made Peace week in Bucks
County a reality of his instead of just a vision of his. Brandon, unlike Richard
was not a victim of violence, however he feels that by spreading the word of
peace and educating young people, he will ensure future students a better chance
at saying the same thing. All three of these young men come from different
places with different experiences yet all in pursuit of one common goal, to lead
people toward a better and more peaceful tomorrow.
I had the chance to ask Brandon how you spread the word of peace in a world that
features violence in both the entertainment world and the reality of our news
programs. “You bombard the media with more positive news to replace the negative
news” he said. “You create positive news through functions like Peace week and
programs www.teenwebonline.com and S.A.V.E. “R”US.” During his speech he quoted
writer Scott Keal saying “You don’t plan to fail, you fail to plan.” Brandon
would later say “I plan to succeed.” However all of these young men feel that in
order to succeed it will take young people to lead the way for the future.
Brandon reiterated that the greatest tool to stopping violence that we have is
the word of mouth one person spreading peace to another.
Michael McKenzie, a 24 year old Penn State graduate was on the Bucks County
campus after the event had taken place, and in the spirit of the moment I
decided to enlighten him with some of the information that Brandon, Billy and
Richard had just discussed. I first reminded Michael of the Columbine shooting
that killed 13 students just over 5 years ago and then I informed him that just
last year nearly 40 students were killed in school violence across America. He
replied “Forty… That’s all? That’s not that bad...Is it?” To which I felt
compelled to remind him 40 students is very bad. In fact 4 students is bad; I
don’t see why one student should go to school and have to worry about weather or
not he or she will be coming home alive. I don’t blame Michael for his response
to our conversation but I know that had I not replied I would have blamed
myself.