On April 20, a group of students under the name of Nighthawk Activists United (NAU) gathered more than 150 Del Norte students in front of the school. Wanting students to participate in an nation-wide walk out against school violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine massacre.
NAU members were frustrated that the first school walk out regarding gun control did not make the massive difference that they wanted it to. Even though Florida bumped up stocks and age limit to buy a gun they wanted a bigger impact throughout all states. This is why due to this they formed the NAU to further political activism among students. They want to press their representatives and the Poway district need to hear their voices to listen.
These Del Norte students directed attention to the Poway Unified School District, believing not enough is being done to help discourage school violence. While they upgraded Del Norte’s security by putting up cameras and fencing, NAU students at Del Norte hoped their school administration would do more.
Senior Yunho Jung wants to the school board to hire new counselors as current counselors are overworked with assigned students. With more counselors, they would have enough time to talk to students that need help with out being too busy with assigned students.
“We are losing personal connection with them as students,” Jung said.
Del Norte’s junior Caden Hollander spoke at the board meeting stating his perspective on the situation.
“The Second Amendment should not outweigh our rights to feel safe at schools,” Hollander said.
Hollander also expressed that buying a gun should have been that easy at their age.
“It should not be harder to get a driver’s license than a gun,” Hollander said.
Yunho Jung, Caden Hollander, Nicole Parks, and Maria Alita stated their opinion at the school board meeting, telling board members what needs to change in order for kids to feel safe at school again. Other than students disconcerting each other thinking who can be trusted.