On Jan. 20 at 2 p.m., more than 100 Upper Arlington High School students walked out to protest United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The walkout was part of the national Free America movement, which has coordinated protests in major cities and schools across the country. For UAHS, the walkout was organized by junior Rory Geygan.
“Honestly, it’s just because what ICE is doing is wrong. And that should be brought to attention,” Geygan said.
Prior to the walkout, UAHS students and families received an email from UAHS principal Andrew Theado regarding the consequences of skipping class. In the email, Theado stated that students who participated in the walkout would receive a detention for each missed class, consistent with existing policies for skipping class. The message also said that students with unexcused absences may not be allowed to make up missed work for credit, and that leaving campus without permission would result in a Saturday school.
Despite the potential consequences, Geygan said the decision to walk out was intentional.
“Walking out with the detention and all shows that this really matters to us,” Geygan said. “I know there’s a lot of news stories out there about other high schools that have done it, and I figured helping rally with them would be effective.”
While some students emphasized alignment with national movements, senior Elise Eisnnicher questioned whether the walkout went far enough to make an impact on the school day.
“[A] walkout is all about disrupting the regular flow of how our nation works. It’s to show that what’s happening right now isn’t normal and it’s not something we should just stick up with and accept. However, I do think we should have done more, something more disruptive,” Eisnnicher said.
Several attendees noted the student-led nature of the event as a defining aspect. For senior Ishaan Vasudeva, the significance went beyond the event itself.
“The fact that this was organized by the youth I think is really inspiring and kind of speaks to what the youth can do. I think ultimately governments should be looking at the youth because that’s who’s eventually taking over, especially in high school. A lot of these kids are about to become voters,” Vasudeva said.
Eisnnicher also commented on why she believed it was important for UAHS students to participate, even if the issue does not directly affect most students at the school.
“Coming from a school that [is] majority white, and most of us are middle upper or upper class, it’s important to speak up for what you believe, because even if ICE isn’t targeting us, it’s kind of that headspace of we’re who we are by chance, we’re born who we are by chance, it could be any one of us,” Eisnnicher said.
