Since Ashley Prickel has come to Walpole  High  School  this  year  as a new music teacher, she has not only been  able  to  bring her  best to the music  program,  but  also to another cause: the  new  Gay  Straight  Alliance  club  known as PRIDE: People Respecting Individual Differences Everyday.

  This new club serves to create a safe  space  for student discussions and spread awareness of minority group issues. Specifically, the club aims to nurture advocacy for lesbian, gay, and transgender students. At meetings, club members discuss current  events,  such  as  National  Coming Out Day on October 11, and watch videos associated with their cause.

Prickel brought the club back to life after   hearing   about   last   year’s  Diversity  Club, run  by  Lara  Walleston  and Sue  Wick.

“I always wished that my high school had a club like this,” said Prickel. “And I wanted to revitalize the club.

 Prickel has attributed the club’s success not only to the cookies present at each meeting, but also the meaningful dialogue regarding the importance of having such a club in place at Walpole High.

“Sexuality has such a broad spectrum, and anyone could fall anywhere on it,” said Matt Moriarty, a member of the club. “PRIDE is there to encourage the acceptance of where- ever someone may fall on that spectrum and to provide a support network for sexuality struggles as well.”

Expanding on his point, Moriarty goes on to remind students that anyone can join, whether they are heterosexual or homosexual.

“I joined the club because I think that it definitely has potential to unify people from every social group and clique,” said Moriarty. “It will hopefully make coming out something that is not such a big deal, because it should not be.”

Students outside the club have also showed their support.

“I think the club is really awesome because it allows students to express themselves freely, without any judgement— an attitude the school definitely needs more of” said senior Sarah Rockwood.

Just recently, the club has started giving out “Safe Space” stickers to teachers to post in the window of their classrooms and act as a symbol of a teacher’s commitment to end bullying in the school. Many teachers, including Rachel Sprague, Katie Francisconi, and April Zyirek, have responded positively to the club and have offered to help support the cause. One of the biggest goals for students and teachers is to stop the use of offensive phrases throughout the school.

“I am a huge advocate for reducing such negative comments, such as ‘that’s so gay,’ that are too often thrown around,” said Francisconi.

Prickel hopes for the club to continue acting as a safe meeting place for discussion and grow both in its number and presence in the school through both students and staff members.