Ridgefield Students Launch Anti-Bullying Organization, Website

After , several members of the Ridgefield community have decided to take bullying matters into their own hands.

With comparable quickness to the original stand that saw thousands of members flock to the "Southern Connecticut High Schools: An End To High School Bullying" Facebook group last Tuesday, students, teachers and school officials have already learned their lesson and have launched a directive to raise awareness of cyberbullying in Ridgefield and beyond.

The organization, called SAID (Students Against Internet Discrimination), is a student-run group with a goal to become nationally recognized. And in just a week, SAID already has its own website.

"Students Against Internet Discrimination is a student founded organization that is committed to taking a stance against cyber bullying in schools across the country," according to the website's mission statement. "It is our goal to foster safe school communities with a zero-tolerance policy and where all students feel valued. Help us protect today's youth."

Recent graduate Kiera Bloch is a director of SAID and the College Chairperson; RHS student Kelly Aaronson is also a director and the High School Chairperson; RHS student Sophie Needleman is a director and Media/Organization Consultant; recent graduate Holly Walker is a director and Political Consultant.

SAID also looks for student representatives for each school involved -- RHS student Mattie Joyner is the representative for Ridgefield. John Board of Joel Barlow High School in Redding and David Gumins of Wilton High School are also "student ambassadors" of their respective schools.

The website also links to an outside petition to "stop cyberbullying and raise awareness" -- so far, the petition has over 300 signatures.

At RHS, the group has been actively hanging fliers and meeting with  administrators and teachers to foster the anti-bullying sentiment. Student life coordinator Emily Kilbourn said that the students, along with Senior Class President Allie Schiffer, are organizing a "Solidarity Day" to be recognized by the district in the middle of February.

"The organization is in its infancy, but we're getting the word out however we can," Kilbourn said. "We're trying to put it on people's radar."