Students are speaking with the principal to get approval to participate in the March 14th walkout. The walkout is a protest intended to get lawmakers to pass common-sense gun control legislation.  

On March 14th at 10 am, organizers across the country are advocating for a 17-minute school walkout to honor the 17 students killed last week in Parkland. The protest is designed to attract the attention of legislators and get them to consider common sense gun control legislation. Several Seneca Valley students are in contact with the principal and many teachers to coordinate logistics of the protest. But even before they get their final approval, the students are already active. They already have information sheets being made about the walkout, and plan to distribute them when they get the details worked out.  

The students at the forefront of the movement also have social media sheets, designed to make the most out of social media’s widespread use. They plan to hand out the paper with hashtags to use and the Twitter handles of the representatives of the area, including State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, Congressmen Keith Rothfus and Mike Kelly, as well as Pennsylvania’s two Senators, Pat Toomey and Bob Casey. The students also included ways to formally contact the legislators for those who are more involved. 

The school shooting in Parkland, Florida last week spurred a movement called Never Again. The students from Parkland gathered to try and influence their state and federal legislators. The students from Seneca are hoping to attempt the same. They plan to invite several legislators if they get approval. Two students, Sophia Kunkel and Brenna Wrubel, already stopped in to Daryl Metcalfe’s local office to request that he support common sense gun control legislation.  They plan to issue a public invitation if given approval. 

Another resource that the students plan to use is the media. Aside from handing out social media information, the students plan to contact local newspapers and television stations, such as the Butler Eagle and KDKA. 

“We want lawmakers to consider our opinions,” said one student. “We can’t vote, but we could be shot tomorrow by someone who can. Doesn’t this at least merit a discussion to ensure that we are heard?” 

“We aren’t actors,” said freshman Brenna Wrubel. “We are responsible, civically engaged students trying to make a difference in our community.”