Columbine Survivor Prevents School Violence
Crystal Woodman Miller Teams up with SPEAK UP Campaign
Apr 18, 2009
Miller has spent the past ten years speaking to kids and adults about her experience, and helping to provide them with the tools they need to prevent violence. She is also the spokesperson for PAX’s SPEAK UP campaign. PAX, a nonprofit organization committed to ending gun violence against kids and families, launched the SPEAK UP campaign in response to the Columbine tragedy. Created in 1982, the campaign is based on the premise that "in 81% of school shootings the attackers told other students about their plans beforehand.” These other students, and the information they possess, are the key to violence prevention." (PAX website, 2009).
The SPEAKUP Campaign
Miller says, “I do not believe I can stop violence single-handedly, but I do believe that we can all work together to do our part, and that is why I've teamed up with PAX- and their SPEAK UP Program. They have worked for years perfecting an anonymous hotline for students to call 24-7-365 to report weapon threats at their own school. I feel confident that I am a part of something that is making a huge difference in the prevention of future school violence.” The campaign seems to be having an impact. According to the PAX website, SPEAKUP has received 30,000 calls over the past seven years.
“This hotline allows students to do the right thing, to take every threat seriously and to act quickly without the fear that their peers may perceive them as a nark. Every moment is precious, and we must make students aware of the dangers, but also educate them properly and give them to tools so they do not have to feel afraid going to school each day. That is why I will keep telling my story and keep sharing this message, because if we don't learn from our mistakes of the past, we are doomed to repeat them in the future,” says Miller.
The ASK Campaign
PAX also sponsors the ASK Campaign, which takes place annually on the first day of summer. This campaign reminds parents to ask about the presence of guns in the home when they send their children to another child’s house to play. Readers interested in either of these campaigns can sign up to receive regular email newsletters from PAX. The site also has several print and video PSA’s that can be downloaded and used to spread the ASK and SPEAKUP messages.
Encourage kids to call 1-866-SPEAKUP if they hear of a threat of violence at their school. Let them know they have the power to make their schools a safer place.
(Quotes from an email interview with Crystal Woodman Miller, April 17, 2009 Read more from this interview here.).
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