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Many of our members just after receiving the first batch of t-shirts. -
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#bhsstopharassing -
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Teach-in Day 1. Students hold up signs with statistics in a "Wall of Truth". -
Students and parents hand out informational flyers. -
One of hundreds of posters put up in our school hallways, only to be taken down by school security guards. -
Sami Kuderna-Reeves and Liana Thomason meet with State Senator Loni Hancock. -
From the left: Keasara Williams, Attorney with Equal Rights Advocates, Liana, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, Sami at the Senate Judiciary Committee Title IX Info Hearing.
Latest Progress
We are thrilled to share the news that BHS Stop Harassing was recognized at the Equal Rights Advocates Luncheon on June 11, 2015 as a “Champion of Justice” honoree. Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) is a national civil rights organization dedicated to protecting and expanding economic and educational access and opportunities for women and girls. We are very grateful to our many supporters and collaborators who have educated and inspired us over these past several months on issues of sexual harassment and ways to improve the climate at BUSD.
BHS Stop Harassing founder, Liana Thomason, was in the 3-4-15 Press Release from State Senator De Leon about SB 695.
Berkeleyside has written an article describing the Office of Civil Rights Investigation at BUSD.
BHS Stop Harassing was featured on the front page of the February 3 San Francisco Chronicle! Click here to read online or here for a pdf. These links can also be found below in the "In the Media" section.
On January 20, Samantha Kuderna-Reeves, one of our members, was asked to give expert testimony to a Senate Judiciary Committee concerning equal opportunities for girls in California's secondary schools; how our schools are complying with Title IX. Senator Loni Hancock (Berkeley) also attended the hearing, and members of BHS Stop Harassing were able to meet with her.
On Tuesday, January 13, several BHS stop harassing members joined two of our adult advisors in educating the Longfellow Middle School PTA about sexual harassment in BUSD and what they can do to help. Outreach to the middle schools is an essential step in informing our community and making it a safe place for all students who are affected by sexual harassment.
At the December BUSD Board Meeting, during Public Comments, several girls from our group bravely provided testimony about their own experiences of sexual harassment or lack of response to it in the district. A petition was also presented with over 700 signatures from both students and community members. Watch it here! Our portion starts at 3:30 and ends around 11:00.
"The Upstander Effect"
Rachel Siskin-Lavine, a junior at BHS, presented this incredible speech to a class of her peers. She describes what sexual harassment is and how you, as an individual, can effectively stand up against it.
In the Media
- Samantha Kuderna-Reeves' testimony starts at 1:23:45
- Senator Loni Hancock (Berkeley) comments at 1:33:00
- BHS Stop Harassing during Public Comment starts at 2:25:30
12/29/14 - KQED Radio & Blog
12/24/14 - KPFA Radio on BHS Jacket censorship
(starts at 16:33)
12/10/14 - BUSD School Board Meeting – student leader testimony and presentation of the BHS Stop Harassing
(starts at 3:25)
12/2/14 - KPFA Radio – Upfront Show
12/1/14 - Daily Cal
Teach-In November 24 & 25 2014
11/25/14 - Reel Girl's Blog
11/25/14 - ABC TV
11/25/14 - KPFA Radio (starts at 33:15 and goes until 38:15)
11/25/14 - KGO radio
11/25/14 - KCBS radio
11/19/14 - Berkeleyside Online News Outlet
Talking with the School Board
BHS Stop Harassing and other concerned organizations address the Berkeley Unified School District School Board on a regular basis on matters pertaining to the District’s policy and approach to improving the climate around sexual harassment. See comments from:
BHS Stop Harassing Students address the School Board:
- April 8th Meeting: Alice Rossman talks about the inadequacies of the CSBSA Sexual Harassment policy and lack of progress in training and other elements of Title IX compliance
- March 25th Meeting: Students speak about the shortcomings of the CSBA sexual harassment policy and the need for student training ASAP
- March 11th Meeting: Liana Thomason, Josh Rouen-Keren and Avi Simon (starts at 1:05)
- December 10th Meeting: Students describe the sexual harassment climate at BHS
BHS Stop Harassing Adult Advisors address the School Board:
- April 22nd Meeting: Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee members Heidi Goldstein (starts at 19:17) and Margit Roos Collins (starts at 30:55) discuss funding for seniors and request an update from the Superintendent on the four critical sexual harassment initiatives underway at BUSD.
- April 8th Meeting: Peggy Scott (starts at 3:50) and Margit Roos Collins (starts at 6:28) talk about the four steps BUSD must take to comply with the basics of Title IX; Heidi Goldstein (starts at 8:34) talks about concerns with BUSD cooperation with the OCR investigation.
- March 11th Meeting: Rebecca Levenson and Heidi Goldstein (starts at 12:00 and 23:20)
Sexual Harassment Advisory Committee (SHAC) members address the School Board:
- February 11th Meeting: Peggy Scott on retaliation against girls targeted by the Team 15 instagram page (starts at 3:40)
The Berkeley PTA Council remarks to the School Board:
- March 11th Meeting: BPTA Secretary Christine Staples with a personal story about how education empowered a student to get help to stop harassment (starts at 0:15)
- February 25th Meeting: BPTA President Tracy Hollander on the need to act now to teach students about preventing harassment (starts at 2:28)
- February 11th Meeting: BPTA Secretary Christine Staples on the need for an informational hearing about Title IX (starts at 0:10)
This is not just about BHS. This is about the experiences of all students.
We are dedicated to changing the culture of sexual harassment at Berkeley High, throughout the BUSD (Berkeley Unified School District), and beyond.
Want to get involved? Send us an email and we'll let you know how!