By Emily Thompson

One of the things that really drew me to Fordham University was its motto of creating “men and women for others.” I knew on my first day, when I heard Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of the university speak of the passionate students of Fordham, that I had chosen a school that really did care. Fordham prides itself on its thoughtful and active students who are passionate about creating change; it is part of being a Ram.

When I first told friends and family that I had chosen Fordham as my home for the next four years, I received comments like, “Half of your education will be at Fordham, the other half on Arthur Ave.” Fordham’s motto, after all, is that “NYC is our campus, Fordham is our school.” While all of these comments seem a bit fluffy, Fordham teaches its students to care for those both inside and outside of our gates. Whether through programs such as Global Outreach (GO!) or events such as FDM, Fordham gives its students outlets for finding injustices they are passionate about trying to solve. Only so much can be taught within a classroom. There is a difference between learning about injustice and the suffering of others and feeling compelled to act on it.

In light of the most recent school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, many colleges and universities have announced that they will not penalize accepted students or currently enrolled students for their participation in peaceful protest. In his university statement on gun violence, McShane said, “Fordham University affirms that it is not only a civic responsibility to curtail gun violence, but a mandate dictated by Catholic, Jesuit teachings on the the sanctity of life.”

Whether at a Jesuit university or not, allowing students to take a stance on gun violence gives them the opportunity to show compassion and awareness for their fellow students. To punish students for being passionate about the livelihood of others is to teach them that goodwill is only a concept that they cannot act on. Discouraging students from acting on their beliefs gives the impression that thoughts and words are sufficient for change. While these factors are necessary, it is when people stand up and show up that change is actually made. Youth movements have often been at the heart of change in United States history. We can look to student protests during the Vietnam War to Ruby Bridges and the Little Rock Nine during the Civil Rights movement for proof that, sometimes, the actions of youth are needed to force the hand of lawmakers.

Students and teenagers are often stereotyped as immature and uninformed. Recently, politicians argued on a CNN interview that students are too young to have any opinions on gun control. “Do we allow the children to tell us that we should pass a law that says, ‘No homework’? Or ‘You finish high school at the age of 12’ just because they want it so?” Florida State Representative Elizabeth Porter stated, “No… The adults make the laws because we have the age. We have the wisdom. And we have the experience to make these laws. We have to make laws with our heads and not with our emotions.”

But here is where we prove critics wrong. When we march out onto Eddies, we are procuring a new place for students in the minds of older generations. We have the strength, knowledge and empathy to act on our opinions. By encouraging the walkout, Fordham University is instilling confidence that its students are trustworthy global citizens. Acting on “emotions,” as Representative Porter discourages, is proof that we are deeply disturbed by these most recent tragedies and care about our community.

There is nothing more heart-wrenching than having a lockdown at your school or watching a coverage of a mass shooting. In the aftermath of a travesty such as that at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, facilitating walkouts and allowing students to express their opinions and grief is a part of the healing process. It’s about solidarity with those who lost loved ones or who no longer have a voice. School is the place where often times we feel most at home — it is where our friends are, where we put our sweat and tears into securing a future for ourselves.

Being able to have a say in how their “home away from home” works is crucial for allowing students to feel pride in their community and what it stands for. This, if nothing else, shows the bonds of the Ramily within Fordham and the care students have for those outside Fordham’s gates.

Emily Thompson, FCRH ’21, is a journalism major from Norwalk, Connecticut.