In a society where social media creates a larger opportunity for bullying, a new campaign is making an effort to prevent bullying from taking place on the internet. Statistics state that more than 3.2 million students identify with being victims of bullying each year. Harassment and bullying amongst kids and teens have increased rapidly, simply due to the fact that there are so many outlets where bullying can be cultivated. The Tyler Clementi foundation was started in 2010 to commemorate Tyler’s suicide after being bullied online. The foundation has started many campaigns to promote the awareness of bullying and preventative measures to put an end to this heinous crime! The Tyler Clementi Foundation is not only highlighting the prevalence of bullying, it has launched an innovative program, called #Day1, that is based on prevention and action. They are asking students, teachers, sororities, and fraternities to take the Upstander Pledge, which is a commitment to stand against any kind of cruelty towards the people in their communities.
This campaign is hoping to approach the issue in a different way by encouraging people in authority to prohibit bullying in the settings that they are in. Among organizations supporting #Day1 are Columbia and Rutgers, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and Rock the Vote. Celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Megan Mullally, Susan Sarandon, and Caitlyn Jenner have also backed the campaign. Are you going to take the stand against bullying? You, too, can take the pledge, by visiting the Tyler Clementi Foundation’s homepage. The foundation is nearing 1,00o signatures, so be sure to take the pledge today!