Students risked disciplinary action at nearly 3,000 high schools in the first nationwide walkout for gun policy reform in March.
But they most likely didn’t risk their hopes for college admission.
“Attention HS students: @AdelphiU fully supports your desire to stand up for your beliefs. Participation in non-violent demonstrations has never and will never affect your status as an applicant in any way.”
Adelphi University took to Twitter in February to assure students publicly that participation in nonviolent protests wouldn’t disqualify them from admission.
“There’s an obvious difference between standing up peacefully and demonstrating for beliefs, versus individuals who make a choice to destroy property or become violent in any way,” says Kristen Capezza, associate vice president for enrollment management at Adelphi University in Garden City, New York.
According to a database maintained by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, hundreds of colleges nationwide have expressed support for student activists on Twitter and their websites.
A second nationwide walkout is scheduled for April 20. Data suggest college-bound teens are motivated to make a difference. More than one in five first-time college freshmen said they demonstrated for a cause in the past year, according to the latest CIRP Freshman Survey from UCLA. More than one in four respondents said influencing the political structure is a “very important” or “essential” life goal.
