Aloha athletes have joined the antibullying movement and the timing couldn't be better. A number of high-profile college athletes in Hawaii are taking part in a series of antibullying public service announcements that will air in the coming months, according to Towleroad.com.
The PSA spots, which were funded by First Hawaiian Bank, will air on numerous TV outlets and on the scoreboard during games at University of Hawaii's Aloha Stadium and the Stan Sheriff Center. The segments feature UH’s Kanani Danielson (volleyball), Richard Torres (football), Jessica Iwata (softball), and Miah Ostrowski (football and men's basketball) each explaining the dangers of bullying and encouraging students and communities to help promote campus safety.
"We will make our schools safe for our children so they can concentrate on learning," Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. "We are addressing bullying in all forms and are committed to working together so that every school has an antibullying plan."
The PSAs are reportedly part of a comprehensive “peaceful schools” program that focuses on best practices to combat bullying and ensure every student is "respected, honored, and valued." The program also includes annual training for faculty, staff, and students, as well as families and the community. Student behavior data will be routinely monitored, a confidential reporting system will be developed, and schools will adopt a program to prevent and respond to bullying promptly.