Election season has come and gone, and students are proud to express their beliefs. Some wear t-shirts or hats; some stick to the classic yard sign, and some put bumper stickers or fly flags on their cars.

Political expression isn’t inherently wrong, but it can easily cause conflict among the students of AHS. Conflict is normal, it’s high school after all, but lately for the students of AHS, it seems that the boundary of friendly conflict is slowly being pushed into the territory of bullying.

It’s important for every student to be able to feel safe expressing their beliefs in the school. Some, like junior Lila Wiederstein, said that they feel safe sharing their beliefs, but others like senior Gracey Pelzer said, “I would not feel comfortable saying my beliefs in front of the school,” as for fear of judgment. 

The 2024-2025 AHS Student Handbook, Appendix B, page 38 states that there are nine factors that make a healthy, normal conflict ascend into bullying. These factors include an imbalance of power, regular or repeated offenses, whether it’s intentional, and lack of remorse. Students who have witnessed bullying based on the election agreed with these definitions. Senior Sarah Blake said a good amount of students are being bullied for their political beliefs frequently, including herself. When Blake gets bullied, “[I do] nothing. Sometimes I argue, but there’s kind of no point.”

Industrial Arts teacher Noah Widrowicz noted an account of an aggressor bullying a student by saying that the student wasn’t happy with the election results because of the color of their skin. Widrowicz said, “The teacher that told me about it took care of it very swiftly and with discipline, but it’s really disappointing that we have students that would talk to each other like that.”

Political opinions in the school are as varied as the students who share them. Before sharing said opinions, consider if it’s the proper time or place to do so. Would talking about politics right now result in a respectful discussion? Could I maintain a peaceful attitude when sharing with these people? Does this person want to engage in the discussion or would it make them uncomfortable? Political debate can widen viewpoints but it should never become violent. Above all, respect and safety should be the priority.

If you or someone you know is being bullied, please fill out the ANTI-BULLYING/HARASSMENT COMPLAINT FORM, or talk to a teacher, parent, guardian, or trusted adult.