Alvirne spreads the word about offensive language

“Spread the word to end the word” was on people’s minds on Wednesday. It’s a promotional phrase to stop the frequent use of the R-word by teens and adults and to show that sometimes words can hurt more than any action. The feelings associated with the R-word can lead to some feeling bullied and others offended. This event has become a tradition at Alvirne High School, and many groups at the school felt the need to speak their minds about it. Studio 19, Alvirne’s televised announcements, ran a special broadcast for the day with insight from Principal Steven Beals, as well as an “outro” recycled from last year’s “Spread the word to end the word” day. The WATS club, an acronym for “We Are All The Same,” made a large banner that pledged for the stopping of the use of the R-word and other offensive language. Students and faculty alike were invited to sign it and in return received either a bracelet or a ribbon as thanks. Senior WATS club member Elizabeth Treusdell said the campaign “won’t make students stop saying hurtful things, but it will certainly force them to see that such words are just not OK.” The topic was the underlying tone of the day because everyone seemed to be bringing it up.