District Looks For Twitter Culprits, Applauds 1,000+ 'Voices of Tolerance'
An offensive Twitter account based in Ridgefield prompted a quick response from hundreds of Ridgefield students -- and those from elsewhere -- to show that tolerance can go viral, too.
Update, 1:30 p.m.
Ridgefield High School is abuzz with talk of Monday's online uprising against bullying and cyber-bullying as the "Southern Connecticut High Schools: An End To High School Bullying" Facebook page reaches 800 members and counting.
District Superintendent Deborah Low released a statement earlier:
"I am sorry to report this incident. Yesterday afternoon (January 30), twitter messages were sent out by Ridgefield High School students titled, “RHSfagoftheday.” Although I haven’t been able to see them, apparently they follow a pattern of others sent out earlier such as “RHSGirlProbs,” “RHSbabewatch,” “RHSstudoftheday,” “RHSrumors,” and “RHSDailyQueer.”
The on-line behavior is disturbing and unacceptable. As educators, it is frightening to hear about cyber-bullying because we know what tragic impacts it can have. It is distressing to witness the level of ridicule and intolerance and it is unfathomable that some people use hateful and demeaning language. The behavior and values expressed represent the worst in people.
From what I know, yesterday’s tweets about “RHSfagoftheday” were taken down last night. This was apparently in response to the overwhelming outrage and criticism expressed by Ridgefield High School students and graduates. The number of people who immediately banded together to express their outrage is heartening and impressive.
Our faculty and staff will conduct a thorough investigation and respond as strongly as possible; there is no tolerance for such abhorrent behavior. We also will communicate our support and concern for the victims. As some parents have noted, this is a “teachable” moment and we will address the bullying and harassment issues through our advisory program, classes, and student life activities. We will partner with the PTSA as well.
Our present and former students spoke out against injustice and stood up for what is right. The voices of tolerance and respect were louder than the voices of intolerance and cruelty. I applaud and thank these students."
High School Principal Jeffrey Jaslow also had some words for the students who helped get the ball rolling:
"I assure you that the RHS administration is greatly dismayed that any members of our community would participate in such behavior, and that we will be aggressive in our investigation and in addressing the matter. We are currently attempting to obtain more information about what has transpired.
I also want to say how gratifying it is to see your response and to hear of the outrage and outcry among the student body. It is imperative that a single message be conveyed: that this type of behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by any constituency within our community."
Meanwhile, the students who started it all are looking to spread the message even further.
RHS senior Sophie Needleman, who heard about the original messages, told the story of her outrage at seeing the homophobia online and how she used a combination of Facebook and alumni acquaintances to get her message across.
"We knew Facebook was, at the moment, the way to let a large group of people know about this," Needleman said Tuesday. "And it just sort of exploded from there."
Needleman contacted recent alumna Holly Walker for help organizing the alumni community, many of whom were "horrified," and Walker and fellow RHS graduate Kiera Bloch helped form the petition.
Soon, members of other communities nearby began asking to get involved -- the provisional name for the group formed just yesterday afternoon is "SAID," or Students Against Internet Discrimination.
Emily Kilbourn, Student Life Coordinator at the high school, hoped to celebrate the positive outreach the students coordinated in getting the information in public.
"This shows that there's a huge majority of students who, like Sophie and others, are willing to speak up against this kind of wrongdoing," Kilbourn said. "I'm so impressed they had the courage to organize this and articulate a beautiful letter to the school administration."
It's not the end for Needleman and her Facebook group, though, even if it was the furthest thing from her mind just yesterday morning.
"We're hoping to get every school in the FCIAC involved," Needleman said. "We've gotten the message out there, and now we just need to keep up the momentum."
Original story
After an offensive and homophobic Twitter account took aim at individual students Monday, hundreds of Ridgefield High School students and alumni quickly gathered a cohort from Ridgefield and several other towns in Fairfield County -- some as far away as Western Massachusetts -- to show the bullies who's boss.
And quick it was: With over 500 members just six hours after its inception, membership to the Facebook group "Southern Connecticut High Schools: An End To High School Bullying" steadily rose even after midnight. Odds are membership is quite a bit higher by early morning Tuesday.
RHS senior Sophie Needleman and alumnae Holly Walker (Wellesley College) and Kiera Bloch (Clark University) kickstarted the Facebook page Monday afternoon to combat a sudden onslaught of cyber-bullying behavior from within the Ridgefield community Monday that stemmed from various Twitter accounts.
Walker wrote in the first post on the page:
"It has come to our attention that several twitter accounts have been created in order to single out and bully individuals who are a part of the RHS community. Certainly the most disturbing of these was '@RHSfagoftheday.' Needless to say this is absolutely uncalled for and cannot and will not be tolerated.
Often times Ridgefield doesn’t respond to cyber bullying with the strength and provocation needed to bring down this hurtful and dangerous behavior. Please help us send a message to the Ridgefield High School administration voicing our concern and demanding a strong reaction from the school."
After Walker's initial plea for support, she didn't wait long -- students and alumni from RHS, and soon from other nearby and not-so-nearby schools, began adding their names to be signed to a letter to school officials and administration.
Students from nearby schools included those from Ridgefield High School, Joel Barlow High School and Weston High School, with the anticipation, Needleman posted, to incorporate schools in Wilton, New Canaan and Darien.
Needleman posted earlier on:
"In January 2012, a revolution was started. A revolution of caring, of speaking out and standing up against bullying in all its forms, but especially in those forms which take place over the internet and the social networking websites which make it so easy for us to lose sight of who we are and what we believe in. Help us to continue the spread of strength. Add your friends to the group and do everything you can to stop the hate."
Patrick Ford-Matz, an alumnus of RHS and a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania wrote in an email to the Ridgefield Patch editor:
"The cyberbullying going on and the immediate backlash of the student body is pretty powerful stuff, and I think it would do the whole town a lot of good to be appraised of both the blatant homophobia that exists on campus, and how strongly students are speaking out against it."
Walker also included in her original post a call to arms for other students and alumni interested in stepping up to cyber-bullying:
"As a group of both current Ridgefield High School students and alumni, we collectively share an interest in our school and our community. Though we may be scattered across the country, even across the world, we have a responsibility as RHS students to say something when we see something that is wrong. It is what we have been taught and it is what we are expected to do."
Editor's note: This is a preliminary report -- Patch will follow up with input from school officials and other students when available.
Kathy
7:23 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
It's inspiring to see this response. I hope parents and school officials get on board and learn from these students. Bullying of any kind should not be tolerated.
S
7:44 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Kudos to these students! Someone should get to the bottom of this - I am sure twitter can release the information. And IP addresses can be traced.
RHS parent
8:14 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
This is proof that the youth in Ridgefield are awesome! Thanks to all of them who let their voices be heard, they are the MAJORITY:)
I hope that the adults and administration can step up and hold the students accountable for these actions.
RHS Student
7:30 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Are you serious right now? Clearly the Ridgefield youth is not awesome if they are making twitter accounts called @RHSfagoftheday. I am appauled that you just praised the children of Ridgefield, the people that should be praised are Holly Walker, Sophie Needleman, and Kiera Bloch and thats it.
Ridgefelled
9:04 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Cool what these kids did. The adults should learn from this and stop their own brand of cyberbullying so easily found on these forums...
RHS Student
7:33 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Thank you. Parents step up!
Deirdre Basile
9:14 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
After hearing about the homophobic Tweets last night, I went to bed heartsick. I'm so happy to see this morning that the loving, tolerant and compassionate young people in our town outnumber the hateful and ignorant. Great job, all of you! Your parents salute you!
Kathy
10:34 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
If you admire these young activists, please consider joining the page on Facebook that is mentioned in this article. It is a public site. I know they would welcome your support.
Liz G
12:05 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
These quick-acting students are true role models for our younger children. Children are not born with bias, it is something they learn. 500+ peers stating this won't be accepted is awesome.
Sophie Needleman
11:34 am on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Hello Everyone,
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. This is slowly taking shape into something which, if done right, could become a national movement against cyber bullying in all its forms. Please share this article with you friends and family members who have high school or middle school aged children, be part of our effort to raise awareness and promote understanding. Also, if you would like to be a part of the group on Facebook, search for "Southern Connecticut High Schools: An End to Cyber Bullying" and join the group.
Thank you again for your support,
Sophie Needleman
RHS Class of '12
localmom
1:59 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sophie, Holly and Keira's attitudes toward tolerance are thankfully the rule and not the exception, as their efforts show. However, their willingness to push this issue into daylight and find a way to galvanize a community with speed and inspiration is truly exceptional.
Anon
2:40 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I was bullied relentlessly at ERMS and RHS. Some of the people quoted in this article and some of the founders of the facebook group participated and "stood idly by" as their friends harassed me and made me feel horrible about myself. I'm STILL in therapy dealing with the effects. What you're doing is great, but very hypocritical. I have horrendous social anxiety stemming from all the bullying; both verbal and over the internet. I'm taking a stand for all of us who were bullied in high school by the noble kids who now claim that they are so against it. I just want to thank you for ruining my teenage years and now accepting praise for your current "project". You do not have my support. I do support this idea, though. Before the adults in Ridgefield praise you guys, I want them to know that you are not role models.
RHS Parent
3:01 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Dear Anon,
I am so sorry to hear about your traumatic experiences at RHS. This brings to light that we should not be "hanging" the few responsible for just the recent tweets and think that ends the discussions and awareness. Rather than casting stones, we need to all admit that there may have been times we have turned an eye and not stood up for the those being bullied. That is what Operation Respect is all about. All of us acknowledging that we may have not made the best choices always, but to have the humility and grace to try to do the right thing. I truly hope you find peace and feel the respect the community is sending your way.
Christine E.
4:19 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Anon,
I was harrassed relentlessly as well, especially in ERMS. I can feel your pain, as I too still suffer from a lot of social anxiety. I am extremely self conscious because of the way people treated me. No one EVER jumped to my defense. I almost flunked out of 6th grade because I spent more time in the Nurses office than I did in class. I went to guidance counselors who told me "he makes fun of you probably because he has a crush on you". What kind of response is that? Not one teacher bothered to find out WHY I was always leaving class. Instead, I was labeled an underachiever. Someone who just "didn't care" to do their work.
But here's where you lost me... At some point in your life you have to start taking steps toward bettering yourself and stop placing blame. I have used this as a learning tool, to make a positive out of a negative, by helping to educate other kids who are going through the same thing - the support I always wanted and needed, but never got. Yes, those bullies had no excuse and no right to cause my emotional pain, but you can't let it own you for the rest of your life. Many kids stand 'idly by' because they, too, are afraid to be a victim or target. That's a fact. Instead of being bitter, embrace what's happening...because even if it helps one kid, it's all worth it.
Ed Tyrrell
10:36 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
This anonymous comment is an example of cyber-bullying at its worst.
Christine E.
11:57 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
I actually do believe that the Ridgefield Public School system failed me. How I was able to spend 3 out of 5 days in the nurses office without raising any red flags is beyond me.
But I don't believe that you can sit here and attack the kids who have formed this group. Being bullied doesn't give you the right to take your emotions out on others, no matter how angry you are. Even if some of the members of this group have bullied before (and there's no evidence saying they have)...is it not possible for them to have learned from their mistakes? Maybe they felt bad for doing nothing? Maybe they were scared to help you and now, with the strength of numbers, they aren't afraid to speak? Kids are easily influenced...this group is exactly what needs to happen in this town.
As a side story...Anon, at my 10 year high school reunion a friend of mine was approached by a kid who harrassed her endlessly in middle school. Even as an adult, she was nervous when this kid started talking to her. He went up, said hello...and immediately apologized for all of the terrible things he did or said to her when they were kids. He felt bad about it. All this time, she figured this kid still hated her and was nothing but a big jerk. But people change. People learn from their mistakes. He kept it with him and, as he matured, he realized what he did to her was wrong. Have a little faith in people's ability to do good.
RHSstudent
3:52 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Anon,
I'm incredibly sorry to hear of the hate you faced in Ridgefield Schools. I admire your courage, strength, and encourage you to keep your head up. However, I don't think it was right to lash out against the three girls. I know Holly, Kiera, and Sophie extremely well and I'm not saying they're perfect, but I don't believe they would ever go along with someone intentionally bringing harm to others. Their movement is going to do this school a lot of good, and I believe it should be fully supported. So I ask you to think twice about your comment because I feel it was insensitive towards three bright girls who are just trying to make a change.
Luca Duff Cruz
5:58 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sorry--I know Im in the minority here, but its not particularly courageous to speak anonymously and impugn the kids who 'anon' claims to have been harrassed by.
This person is tacitly naming names, while hiding --- its acceptable--but not courageous.
It can easily be another form of bullying that anon is doing. Trying to discredit those who are trying to stop the bullying. Now Im a fake name--so dont think Im saying Im better-- just a note of caution before praising 'anon' who did nothing-and is pointing fingers anonymously-and beginning to doubt the sincerity of those kids who have chosen to take steps to end it.
paul d.
8:44 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Joyce- (luca) you should be ashamed of yourself for your hypocrisy. It has been proven that you are just out on this site to provoke people and then when confronted delete posts to hide your antics. You note you have no right to say your better - you are not even equal. Go back to Darien and stop being a poser.
RHS Parent
6:07 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
It's pretty evident that "Anon" has been through a great deal of hurt and has not had much support, so let's cut him some slack. What he needs now is not to be pushed back down and to feel more pain. Let's show him some care and hope that he can resolve his anger toward classmates whom he perceives have not stood up for him. It's really courageous of him to even come forward and share his troubled ERMS and RHS times and we wouldn't want others who need to share their experiences feel like they are going to be further bullied for it.
Luca Duff Cruz
7:47 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Ok RHS Parent--
So in other words you are fine with the attacks on the kids who organized this anti-bullying thing? By an anonymous poster.
Strange. But apparently you know what is right and wrong. I dont claim to. I just think that its possibly another form of bullying. An attempt to discredit those kids.
RHS Student
7:51 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Its not discrediting the kids, Anon was just stating how he/she feels towards the school, not necessarily the 3 responsible. I think RHS parents is being sympathetic to a child in pain, and I thank them.
Luca Duff Cruz
8:14 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Rhs student
You might want to re-read 'anon's' post
It says that the kids who formed this are the kids who harrased him/her in erms and rhs. They go on to call them hypocrites and do not support this particular drive, although they support the concept in general.
That to me sounds like an accusation/attack on the kids who founded it. In fact it says" the founders of the facebook group PARTICIPATED and "stood idly by" as their friends harassed me and.... ruined my life.
I dont think there is much ambiguity. I cant attest to the validity--but certainly it is an attack. I am only saying that if you want to stop cyber attacks---they are often supported by the anonymity of the internet--and in this case it may in fact be a victim, lashing out at her former attackers--or it may be a way to discredit the people who decided to take a stance.
For me--its not a particularly courageous way to get even with your supposed attackers. But--thats simply my opinion -and i have no facts to either refute or support anon. If anon is correct --then would you ask the founders of this site to step down?
RHS Student
8:22 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Yes, if it was found out to betrue I would ask the "founders" to step down, and how do you know Anon is a she?
paul d.
8:46 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Everyone beware...
Click on Luca (her real name is Joyce and she lives in Darien) and you will see the type of provocation she seeks. Do not invite her into a thoughtful concern for our community members.
RHS Student
7:23 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Ridgefield is a death trap and this group should have been made a long time ago. It should have been made by the parents. They should have been responsible enough to make this instead of putting it on the youth. Grow up Ridgefield, grow up.
John Symon
10:09 pm on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Luca, you make some good points.
Kudos to the kids. I'm one step closer to getting a Facebook account to support them!
Have any of our town leaders voiced support for these kids and against the bullying?
Christine E.
11:42 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
John,
I have seen posts on the Ridgefield facebook page from John Frey in support of the cause.
Anon
1:21 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
"Its not discrediting the kids, Anon was just stating how he/she feels towards the school, not necessarily the 3 responsible."
Yes. Thank you. And I'm not asking anyone to step down (this is a good cause), and certainly not trying to get even. If you want to believe I'm making everything up, go ahead, but I can assure you I'm not. That's all.
Anon
1:22 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
If you were in my position, clearly you would post your name. But I'm not going to because it would lead to more gossip and harassment.
krs2
9:24 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Just another bulletpoint for some outgoing RHSers to add to their resumes and college applications. Their parents certainly taught them well. Like most other causes in this town, it's all talk and no action. Who would ever openly support bullying? You could get all 800 million facebook users to "like" this group and you'd still have bullying inside schools.
The entire environment of Ridgefield is based around an aggressive, dog-eat-dog, competitive mentality. Take out the pressures, the strong desire to succeed, the aggressive parents, the alpha male and females that are and are created by some local parents...maybe we'd put an end to bullying in RHS..
RHS Student
11:20 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
This is so true and I thank you for understanding how I think too. RHS is a town full of anger and and intense hatred for people not like them.
Luca Duff Cruz
11:49 pm on Wednesday, February 1, 2012
krs2
Im not sure you will find an absence of this so-called bullying in any town--
Check out inner city schools, where the competition is not at all like Ridgefield, and you will still hear of bullying.
It isnt limited to this county, state or even country.
A side note--it seems that people like anon and krs feel no qualms about attacking the organizers of this anti-bullying campaign. Krs now reduces the effort to a resume builder..... apparently krs feels the best way to solve bullying is to sign up anonymously--attack the town for its latent ambition-and discredit the organizers of an antibullying campaign. Somehow--from my vantage--that wont work either.
I agree that a facebook page isnt going to solve bullying today or tomorrow--but neither will saying that the effort is meaningless and the real culprits are parents etc....
paul d.
6:24 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
@ Joyce- (Luca) you say, "I agree that a facebook page isnt going to solve bullying today or tomorrow--but neither will saying that the effort is meaningless and the real culprits are parents etc...."
Nice job trashing both on one sentence while sitting in absolute judgement over everything. Tell us m'am, what is going to solve the problem?
Sophie Needleman
11:47 am on Friday, February 3, 2012
Hello everyone,
For those of you who claim that our efforts are "all talk and no action" I urge you to visit our website at www.saidnow.org. Also, please realize that launching a national campaign does not happen overnight. However, we are currently working with student representatives from CT, NY, PA, VT, MA, IL, CA, and TN to bring the movement into their schools. We are also coordinating possible meetings with CT state senators Joe Lieberman and RIchard Blumenthal. We are doing everything we can to take this to a place of action. We are also hosting an all-day event at Ridgefield High, Wilton High, Staples, and Joel Barlow called "Paint the School Blue" (the event may be found on Facebook) which is an all-day event focused on educating the high school populations about the dangers of cyber bullying.
Thank you for all your support and interest,
Sophie Needleman
Director and Head of Media/Organization
SAID: Students Against Internet Discrimination
Tom Falconieri
6:35 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Students Against Internet Discrimination
Are you kidding me???? This statement is a JOKE right. I hate bully's and had many encounters in school. But to say it is Discrimination is just another liberal with a phony cause. Make no bones about it i hate bully's with a passion but you are just another liberal with a cause. I know the TYPE you are a dime a dozen.
With that no child should be bullied no how no way. But to call it discrimination is a joke. It is how a child is raised. If a kid is a bully his parents should take care of that ASAP. I was not going to post on this till i read you Phony title once again i know the TYPE!!!
Tom Falconieri
10:16 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
I am willing to bet it was a prank. Seems like it to me as i know some juniors that actually confirmed it. So once again the school over reacted. And as far as the SAID you must be very Bored. Their have been many groups in past history that started nonsense that you are pushing Sophie. Dollars to donuts it is a PRANK!!!!
CB
10:26 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
Tom--you talk about hating bullies, but you seem to be the bully now! The name of the group is not as important as the work they are trying to do. Let them be, at least they are trying!
localmom
10:36 pm on Friday, February 3, 2012
It totally figures that you would be THE person to come out and say this is not a serious thing. YOU are THE BIGGEST BULLY in online conversation that has EVER BEEN. Whether it is Patch or the Press Forum, no one but you has been more of a hater, condemning divergent thought, by using flagrant, offensive, aggressive language than you have. By promoting his own new email as "ridgefieldsucks" etc.
Why even TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY since you HATE SO MUCH????
You have proven yourself has a hateful, negative, intolerant person...SO WHAT???
Tom Falconieri
12:21 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Then dont take me serious who the hell cares. This town is not so nice any more and if this post is true which i am willing to bet that most of it is fabricated and as usual blown out of proportion But lets say it is true. This proves that the town is a bad place to live and go to school here. But then all the politically correcgt LIBERALS SCREAM OT FOUL AND OH MY GOD. Here is a wake up call bullying has been going on for century's. And i always love it when groups stir the pot with their phony organizations. I can name many of these that have sprung upo over the years. So is our educators failing us at the tremendous salaries they make or is it the school board raping us of our taxes and not providing a duality education. You choose i have made up my mind long ago that this town is divided by leaps and bounds. So that is me and if i come off as a bully so be it.
Thomas Soukup
9:50 am on Saturday, February 4, 2012
Sophie
I strongly agree with the sentiments of your organization www.saidnow.org but like so many well intentioned groups, I didn't really find anything but a united front of sympathetic voices. I found most of the headlines symbolic: School Outraged, Intolerant, Gay slur sparks action, Students fight Bullying tweets ....... There was mention of painting a school wall in support of your group and one school started a petition. What really caught my attention,however, was your reference to teaching students the great amount of damage bullying can cause. No kidding! This is exactly why these demented individuals do it. They derive some bazaar pleasure from watching people suffer. The rest of your group, are for the most part, normal well adjusted students who want to learn and have fun.
In many ways I do believe you are preaching to the church choir. I guess that's a good thing.
Tom Falconieri
12:34 pm on Saturday, February 4, 2012
CB i hear you and agree but as i have witnessed many of these gropes in past school history it basically is started by certain individules that are FLAMING LIBERAL. As i may be a bully as you claim it is my hatred for this town and what has become of it. So is the contractor that builds under 8-30G a bully or the creep that built turner hill or DR Yanity that packed those disgusting homes that violated town zoning They in my eyes are bullies and people like you and localmon call me a bully. O IS THE ABOVE PEOPLE BULLIES ON TOWN REGULATIONS ?? yOU BET THEY ARE sO PICK YOUR BULLYING CB and mom IT IS JUST CALLED BY A DIFFERENT NAME. Yes i am a bully because this town is shot and no one gives a DAM!!!
Melinda DiNapoli
8:02 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Mr. Falconieri as an original owner of Turner Hill and current resident, we are not affordable Housing as a matter of fact in the hight of the market our homes where going for close to a $1 million dollars.....jealous! They are still sought after today, just ask a reputable Real Estate Associate. I fear the only Bully here is YOU! AS for the topic at hand.....the bullying at the high school has needed to addressed for years!
S
8:37 am on Thursday, March 1, 2012
Sad that the only voice of reason and sensibility comes from the high school students! Maybe the adults have a lot to learn from them!