VOICES page 6

March 2, 2018
EDITORIAL
Students should advocate for change
High school students have begun a
conversation about the safety of students in
schools since the spike in deaths from gun
violence across the United States. Students
have taken the lead in addressing the issues
surrounding the violent epidemic of mass
shootings.
Baker students should be included in
this conversation that has stemmed from
gun violence. Safety protocols exist but may
not benefit the school in the face of tragedy.
It is important for the young people of
this nation to voice their concern for public
safety in schools because as students we
should not have to worry about getting shot
while in math class.
Social media is one of the main reasons
students have started the conversation.
Hashtags have been circulating the
Twitter-sphere to advocate change for
the protection of human life, especially in
schools.
After the tragic shooting in Parkland,
Florida the witnesses have been the
first to demand change from the federal
government. They are begging for policy
reformation and would rather voice their
opinion than have the nation only focus on
remembrance and afterthoughts. Many of
the students use “#NEVERAGAIN” on social
media and have reached the attention of
celebrities and other public figures.
Major corporations have joined the
collective plea for gun control, registration
processes, and purchase qualifications. For
example, Walmart has recently publicized
its decision to raise the age of purchase
of a gun to 21. As well as raising the age
requirement, DICK’S Sporting Goods also
released a statement saying it will no
longer be selling assault-style fire arms or
bump stocks “that allow semi-automatic
weapons to fire more rapidly.”
With the conversation beginning to
evolve into action, more students will
hopefully join and influence the way
that students can remain safe not only in
schools, but everywhere.
This change, the addition of opinions
from the youth, will likely have a positive
impact on the way society deals with
issues surrounding the ownership of
firearms. After the Las Vegas concert
shooting in 2017, the community mourned
the loss of the victims and the entire
country felt the sorrow of those whose
lives were lost.
However, within months, the news
of another mass shooting, or more
specifically a school shooting, has become
something that now seems unsurprising
to most. As a country, the possibility that a
shooting will occur has become a common
fear among the people.
What sets the Parkland, Florida,
shooting apart from others is the pain
that the students have expressed on social
media platforms, and the emotional pleas
to anyone who will listen.
The Baker University student body can
spark change if they so desire. As part of
the audience, we can take these teenagers
words and turn them into action. Since
Baker is a private university, the rules
and regulations that apply to public
universities regarding concealed guns do
not apply to us. We already outlaw guns
on this campus. We can set an example for
those universities who have no choice but
to follow state legislation.
It takes one spark to ignite a forest
fire, and the passion of America’s young
adults is burning coast to coast. Let us
not extinguish this flame. The safety
standards of schools everywhere in this
country must change. Lives, especially
those of our children, need to stop being
taken. Students have the power to make
the change if they unite and educate
others and themselves on this problem.
The Parkland students have and will not
remain silent, and neither should we. We
must do better.

Baker needs more eating disorder resources

BRENNA THOMPSON of their eating disorder. Bulimia, It takes sorority houses Total Equality Alliance club; we
News Editor anorexia nervosa and binge eating to spark these conversations, certainly address societal issues.

After 10 hours of phone
interviews, dangerously low food
intake and body weight, and a full-
coverage insurance plan, I had finally
qualified to enter the treatment
center that would save my life. Yet
still I had to wait two weeks until I
could drive to Tulsa, Oklahoma and
join 16 other women in recovery.
The women and men who are
accepted into eating disorder
facilities must meet certain criteria
to have the chance to participate in
programming. Those struggling don’t
simply walk into inpatient centers
and start therapy. They are put
“
disorders make up the mental
illnesses with the highest mortality
rate. It is an impending death
sentence.
One in 10 Americans suffer from
an eating disorder, yet less than
10 percent of those suffering seek
help. While these statistics may lead
someone to assume people with
eating disorders don’t want to get
better, this is far from the truth. The
resources, education and awareness
surrounding this life-threatening
mental health crisis are minimal
and scarce.
With National Eating Disorder
Awareness week coming to an end, I
but they are still just brushed Yet, this enormous issue, this
mental health crisis, is going
totally unnoticed.
We have had students pass out
Now, I want of dehydration and malnutrition in
Mabee and we have had students
you to close so sick that they leave Baker for
inpatient treatment. I don’t want
your eyes and another man or woman on campus
to feel alone, scared or unsure of
count to 62. what to do next. We need to let
out peers know we hear them, we
One person understand and we want to help.
Baker needs to start a
has just died as conversation. We need to talk
about eating disorders. I want to
a direct result be able to hold my breath for one

through rigorous questioning, and
once they are admitted, the financial
burden put on those loved ones is
unbelievable. I sat and watched my
mom, even with comprehensive
health insurance, shell out $4,000 for
one month of treatment.
Now, I want you to close your
eyes and count to 62. One person
has just died as a direct result
can’t help but notice the lack of the
usual sidewalk chalk, union tables
or sidewalk posters on campus.
Baker University tends to be an
overwhelmingly progressive campus.
However, there seems to be little
to no organized support or resources
surrounding body image, self-esteem
or unattainable beauty standards—
much less eating disorders.
”
of their eating
disorder.
over with a statistic here, or a
celebrity anecdote there. We have
a substance abuse counselor, a
cultural diversity director and a
minute without someone dying
from this monster. If that’s going
to happen, something needs to
change.  Yes, it’s uncomfortable to
tell people I used to starve myself,
and to this day I find myself
embarrassed to be admittedly
open with my struggles with
anorexia. But if I won’t, I truly
wonder who will.