Local colleges and universities have a message for high school students admitted to their schools: any disciplinary action taken against them for protesting won’t affect their admission status.
“In our view, participation in peaceful protests is a legitimate way to exercise this right. If you are disciplined or suspended by your school district as a consequence of peacefully and lawfully exercising this right, such measures will have no effect upon your admissions decision here at GW,” Costas Solomou, the Dean of Admissions at George Washington University said in a statement.
These statements comes after a Texas school district threatened to suspend students who take part in gun control protests and walkouts.
"Life is all about choices and every choice has a consequence whether it be positive or negative. We will discipline no matter if it is one, fifty, or five hundred students involved," Curtis Rhodes, the superintendent for the Needville Independent School District, said in a statement.
More and more students have been joining protests for gun reform since a shooting at a Florida high school took the lives of 17 people.
With several walkouts having already taken place and more of them, as well as marches and protests, planned, the messages put out by admissions office around DC, Maryland and Virginia appear to seek to provide some relief to high school students planning on protesting.
Here are the local schools that have put out statements so far:
Catholic University
George Washington University
American University
University of Virginia
Johns Hopkins University
George Mason University allegedly emailed students affirming the right of admitted high school students to protest.
A Google document is being updated with universities adding their own messages. It is unclear who is behind the document.
