On Friday, May 1, the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) encouraged students not to speak for the whole day in a Day of Silence. Many students participated in the act intended to promote LBGT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) tolerance.

“This is supposed to be a step towards building awareness and making a commitment to address all of these issues,” GSA vice president sophomore Jennifer Cooper said.

The National Day of Silence was Friday, April 17. Since the day was during Spring Break, the school’s GSA chose a different day for students to demonstrate silence. According to the website for the annual event, the goal is to “bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in schools.”

This year’s national Day of Silence was dedicated to an 11-year-old Massachusetts child, Carl Walker-Hoover, who committed suicide on Thursday, April 9, after enduring homophobic bullying at school.

Students who participated in the Day of Silence did not necessarily identify as LGBT. Before school and during brunch on Friday, GSA members handed out pieces of duct tape in the quad for students to use to cover their mouths.

“I have a deep passion for helping people and promoting solutions on issues in our society,” Jennifer said. “I love the LGBT community and love to help support it.”