Students promote peace at high school campus
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

When Marlina Thompson wanted to help a schoolmate resolve problems and prevent an impending fight, she brought her friend to the Teens For Humanity Club to help settle the dispute peacefully.

The incident happened about two and a half years ago when Marlina was a sophomore. Today, the Moorpark High School senior, who will graduate in June, is president of the Teens for Humanity Club. "I ended up loving what the club is about and the entire atmosphere, so I've been in it ever since," she said.

"Our goal is to promote peace and make sure people get along and keep conflicts down so they don't lead to violence," she said. "If people have issues, they have a place to go."

During Peace on Campus Day last week, students passed out balloons, candy, stickers and friendship bracelets to promote goodwill on campus and in remembrance of the Columbine shootings that occurred in 1999. More recent deadly incidents at Virginia Tech and closer to home in Ventura County have added more meaning to the event.

As a former Oxnard resident, Marlina was acquainted with Larry King, an eighth-grader at E.O. Green Junior High School in Oxnard who was shot in the head by a fellow student earlier this year.

Marlina said she hopes to prevent such tragedies from occurring in Moorpark. While Moorpark High is a peaceful campus for the most part, some students have a lot of conflicts, she said.

"We need to have more small groups where kids can express their concerns so they don't keep the anger bottled up inside. All students have different needs, and they need to have a place where they fit in," she said.

Two-year club member Lace Granatelli said, "The club strives to reduce violence and promote acceptance and tolerance for all students."

Teens for Humanity also promotes equality. "It neutralizes everything, and we can all be friends no matter what," Granatelli said.