SHS welcomes human rights organization

SANDPOINT — The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force recently gained some valuable — and young — allies.

Several Sandpoint High School students are hoping to make a difference in their environment with the recently-formed Human Rights Club. Conceived by student Erik Bruhjell as a collaboration between the youth and Sandpoint’s older set of justice advocates, the group’s intention is to fight against discrimination both in their school and in the greater community.

“I’d like this club to be a beacon for students to turn to when discrimination problems in the school happen,” Bruhjell said.

Of course, finding the right path toward those goals is no easy task. Bruhjell thought it best to start by allying with some partners already well-versed in the battle against injustice. After attending the Jan. 24 meeting of the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, the Sandpoint High School student successfully pitched the idea of a partnership between adult and student human rights advocates. Task force members agreed to fund the club’s efforts and provide guidance for their young protégés.  

They also offered an existing framework to form the structure of the new club’s bylaws. By borrowing some of the organizational aspects from their community partners, Bruhjell and the growing club membership soon had the shape of their group in place. They also narrowed their vision to focus the fight on discrimination based on sexual orientation, race and religion — categories they felt were most frequently targeted in the school. Finally, they found a faculty advisor in Sandpoint High School art teacher Zabrielle Dillon.

Students were drawn to the club for a variety of reasons. Some, like club vice president Noah Hay, know what it’s like to feel the sting of discrimination and want to change the attitudes that perpetuate it. Others, like club treasurer Scout Seley, want to provide support for those who feel like they don’t have anyone looking out for them.

“I think there are problems in our school just like any other school, and sometimes, certain students get swept under the rug,” Seley said.

Since the club is still in its infancy, members spend most of their weekly after-school meetings planning upcoming initiatives. The first step, Bruhjell said, is to become a visible presence in both the school and community. Posters and a booth at the upcoming career fair should bring the club exposure on a smaller scale. By increasing their exposure, they hope to gain new members and cement the group as a staple of the extracurricular scene.

Similarly, club members hope to begin an outreach to the broader community by visiting Blue Haven to engage kids with a mask art project.

“We’re coming at this from an art-as-therapy approach,” Bruhjell said. “We want to really pile on the beads and feathers and make it really fun.”  

As the club advisor, Dillon couldn’t be more pleased to see the group taking a stand against discrimination and oppression.

“I’m so proud of these kids for stepping up to take on a project of this size,” she said. “They thought up the idea and came to me with it — not the other way around — and that’s really cool.”