By Kevin Mittal ’15, Staff Writer

On Tuesday, April 16, Jai Ghose ’14 walked into school 15 minutes late asking “What? What did I miss?” to the shocked students who were walking out of the auditorium in complete silence. He walked in that day, and was completely unaware that in the course of those missed 15 minutes, the Newark Academy dynamic had been turned on its head, courtesy of a poignant presentation by the Gay-Straight Alliance.  Students, Greta Skagerlind ‘14, Flannery James ‘14, Liz Vogel ‘13, Rinat Alelov ‘14, Nina Pusic ‘15, and Eliza Huber-Weiss ‘13 took stage to address the need for support for youth who are coming to terms with their orientation.  The presentation was especially powerful due to its personal nature; each member discussed either her own sexual orientation or her support for friends who identify as any one of LGBTQQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Ally).

According to the Newark Academy website, “Newark Academy welcomes and celebrates diversity and brings individuals together in an atmosphere where all are valued.” That this statement is much more of a goal than a fact was made crystal-clear during that fateful Tuesday Morning Meeting. From the UMOJA club to the musical, students at the Academy are always pushed to embrace differences, and learn to appreciate other cultures. But that presentation opened the eyes of students at the Academy to the idea that some types of diversity are not as celebrated at Newark Academy, and students felt it necessary to do something about it.

The speakers were eloquent and grave, reading off pieces of paper on an empty stage in front of the red curtain. They were the only object of focus for their GSA presentation, and everyone’s eyes were on them. Each student talked about either their own diversity, or their support of others. Liz Vogel critiqued the school on attempting to put a label on her, noting that the acronym LGBTQQIA may not necessarily classify everyone’s sexuality. Flannery James spoke about her fear, and the fear of her parents and friends that after she opened up her feelings people would begin to treat her differently. She was determined, however, and was met with rousing applause.

Very rarely are students reduced to tears on stage, but this time, instead of the normal quiet clapping in response, students and teachers alike gave a standing ovation as Greta handed her microphone off. Mr. Austin reflected, “I’m glad we can go to school where things like this can happen.” And indeed, if anything about the events that transpired post “coming-out” presentation is true, it is the fact that there was a huge outpouring of support and respect from the students in school. “I was very impressed with the bravery of those who presented and I am so grateful to be a part of a community where people can share things about themselves that they probably couldn’t at a public high school,” says Anu Sharma ’15. Sharma presents a common view at Newark Academy with strong, lasting support from the majority of the student body.

Newark Academy boasts of its strong community to prospective students, and there is a lot of truth in that paradigm. Students enjoy a strong sense of community with the entire student and faculty body and it is that which makes this independent school environment so powerful. On that Tuesday, Newark Academy had an even larger reason to boast. At the conclusion of her speech, Eliza Huber-Weiss stated, “I hope presentations like these will become unnecessary one day.” Being first is the hardest step to take, and those six students took that step not only for themselves, but for the entire community. They made it easier for everyone to feel comfortable in their own skin in the general school environment.  Their collective action proves Newark Academy’s welcoming rhetoric.

Having presentations like that of Dr. Michael Fowlin and talking about change is all well and good, but six students did something brave that day, and made our community stronger as a whole. Newark Academy’s entire dynamic was changed, and only for the better. They realized morning meeting’s full potential as an opportunity to truly touch the community.  To miss morning meeting could be to miss the shift of an entire school’s perspective.