For those of you who do not keep up with the daily news or for those who prefer the lighter side of the daily columns, you may not be aware of the heartache that has been spread across the nation this week.
It all started last Thursday, when 13-year-old eighth grader Asher Brown took his own life in Cypress, Texas. He was a straight-A student who ended up taking matters into his own hands after receiving constant harassment from classmates at his middle school, pertaining to his smaller stature, his religion, his choice of clothing and because they accused him of being gay.
His parents had been complaining to the school board about the constant bullying for almost 18 months, according to the Houston Chronicle, before Brown decided enough was enough.
This tragedy is just the most recent of its kind, losing pieces of our next generation due to the immaturity and vindictive nature of others in conjunction with people just standing idle as these aggressions take place.
This past Tuesday, at the University of Texas-Austin, 19-year-old mathematics major Colton Tooley dressed-up in a suit and donned a ski mask before firing off several shots with an AK-47 assault rifle on campus before taking his own life in one of their libraries.
On top of that, the New York Times has uncovered that, within this past week, four veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at Fort Hood, located in central Texas.
Additionally, it was reported by ABC news that Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi jumped off of the George Washington Bridge last week. Two Rutgers students, Dharun Ravi and Molly Wei, have been charged with counts of invasion of privacy after allegedly operating a webcam in Tyler’s room and live-streaming recordings online of him having intimate encounters.
On Sept. 19, on a Twitter page that seems to be operated by Ravi, a tweet was posted saying, “Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly’s room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.”
I am not writing this piece to spread bad news or to ruin anyone’s caffeine buzz this morning. I am writing in an attempt to spread hope across this campus.
With as much time, effort and money we, as college students, place into philanthropies, whether through a youth group, a greek organization or individual, there is finally a cause we can help to put an end to.
Through national organizations such as To Write Love on Her Arms, which focuses on teen and young adult depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide, as well as National Suicide Prevention Hotlines, we are taught to learn from the trials of others and to put our lives towards a better purpose because of it. So please, with all that has happened, this week especially, if you have been moved emotionally in any way by reports of children like Asher Brown or one of our own peers like Tyler Clementi, drive yourself to do something in your community.
Just being able to be there for someone, or to say something nice to a stranger can be a start. I am asking that you support the cause of loving our fellow man. If you see any sort of bullying, malicious acts, or alienation taking place, across this campus or in your hometown, be that voice who says, “Enough.”
Be the one to stand up for the underdog and let them know someone is there for them. Most of all, if you are struggling with depression, addiction, or self-injury in any way, please talk to someone. To quote TWLOHA, “There are good and kind people in this world. There is love to know and beauty to find. You matter beyond words. Please don’t give up.”
Justin G. Brons is a Ph.D. student in metallurgical engineering.
