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Columbia's "We Rise: A Right to Safety" event

Student Council President Lilly Hutton ’18 speaks at Columbia’s assembly “We Rise: A Right to Safety” in the school auditorium.

Columbia High School students and staff came together with local and state officials on Wednesday morning, the day of the National School Walkout, to discuss the topic of school safety in response to the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and other incidents of school violence across the United States.

The focus of Columbia’s “We Rise: A Right to Safety” event was to empower students to respond in positive ways to school violence through proactive, thoughtful civic engagement. The school-wide assembly was developed by Columbia High School student leaders.

The event began with a moment of silence in honor of the victims from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Then Columbia student leaders introduced a number of speakers to discuss issues concerning school safety.

Speakers included:

  • New York State Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul
  • New York State Senator Kathy Marchione
  • New York State Assemblyman John McDonald
  • East Greenbush Police Chief Christopher Lavin
  • Rensselaer Police Sergeant Warren Famiglietti
  • East Greenbush Police Detective Michael Guadagnino
  • East Greenbush Central School District Superintendent Jeff Simons
  • Former Columbia High School Teacher Michael Bennett
  • East Greenbush Town Supervisor Jack Conway
  • New York State Center for School Safety Project Director and East Greenbush Town Council Member Tina Tierney
  • Columbia High School Resource Officer Jay Martyn

Student Council President Lilly Hutton ’18 helped organize the event with classmates Morgan Jones ’18 and Heather Pangburn ’19 out of a desire to end gun violence in schools.

“It is important that students realize they have a voice and can rise up for change,” Ms. Hutton said.

One of the most emotional moments of the morning assembly came from former Columbia teacher and coach Michael Bennett, who had been shot by a student in Columbia High School in February 2004. He and former principal John Sawchuk became heroes during that incident by stopping the gunman before anyone was killed.

Mike Bennett speaking at We Rise assembly

Former Columbia teacher and current assistant superintendent at Schodack CSD Michael Bennett speaks to students at Columbia’s “We Rise” event.

Mr. Bennett said he felt it was his “obligation” to now talk about that incident.

“As someone who’s lived with this for 14 years, I’ve come to accept that this is part of who I am for the rest of my life. Not just me – my family, my friends,” Mr. Bennett said. “It becomes a lifelong part of who people are.”

“Decide to make a difference. Decide to have a voice. And decide to make change,” Mr. Bennett told the students.

In addition to the guest speakers, Columbia students discussed safety at Columbia – what they think works well and what they think needs to be improved upon. They also wrote letters to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School survivors and are selling orange “We Rise” shirts to benefit them.

“I’m proud of our students’ response to an issue that affects each and every one of them directly – school safety,” Superintendent Jeff Simons said. “Through their advocacy and civic engagement they want to make a difference. Given the leadership and the character they all showed today, I am confident they will succeed.”