By Michael Fabatz, Hannah Swain & Justin Beemer
The Fentonian
Fenton HS
Division 2, Yearbook Verbal
Feature Writing: Student Life
Bullying. One short, simple word. Considered a crime, it affects individuals nationally. Nearly 30 percent of United States students were either bullies or victims, and studies by Yale University revealed that victims of bullying were two to nine times more likely to consider suicide.
This act, suicide due to bullying, was coined bullycide in 2001 by authors Neil Marr and Tim Field. In order to combat this problem, the Trust Theatre Ensemble started The Bullycide Project; a 50 minute theatrical production based on Brenda High’s novel “Bullycide in America” and written by the mothers of bullycide victims.
“The Bullycide Project began in October 2010 and has traveled to schools across the United States including our own,” IB Theater director Lori Thompson said. “The show has been presented for schools throughout the state of Michigan, as well as in Texas, Atlanta, Minnesota, Ohio, Las Vegas and Canada. It has also been featured on the national television show ‘CBS 48 Hours: Words Can Kill’ and on ‘CNN The Don Lemon Show.’”
Since its beginning, The Bullycide Project has received national attention. For cast members like freshman Donnie Hall, performing in theaters across the country provided an entirely new experience.
“It’s incredibly different performing The Bullycide Project for another school somewhere in the country,” Hall said. “We always get great feedback from the new audiences about our production. However, putting on a show for an unfamiliar audience puts a lot of extra pressure on me. I know that these kids are my age, and therefore are more likely to watch and be affected by my actions. I have to keep in mind that I am setting an example for my peers about how to deal with bullying.”
Following its start in 2010, the outreach of The Bullycide Project grew, reaching the ears of students around the United States. From local shows to out-of-state productions, the Trust Theatre Ensemble’s production evolved to achieve national awareness. Through their performances of the show, Thompson and her students reflected the production’s ultimate goal: an end to bullycide.