After the school shooting in Parkland, Florida February of 2018, senior Maddie Huerkamp was inspired to start the Student Activism Organization, a new group whose mission is to help St. Pius X students find productive and school-appropriate ways to address larger issues that they find concerning.

After the school announced that it would not allow students to walk out as part of the nationwide March for our Lives Protest that March, Huerkamp founded the club to find a way to express her opinion on the shooting constructively. She said that working with the school instead of defying it would make people “take us as students seriously.”

The club, which has about 15 students, meets after school each Thursday to discuss current events and how St. Pius students can share their thoughts and ideas for change. Huerkamp created the organization to “teach people to voice their opinions constructively.” This includes discussion within the group and drafting letters to state representatives encouraging them to change laws and positions.

Remaining decidedly neutral on current issues, the group opts to take in input from the student body, prohibiting debate during meetings. The club “isn’t about telling people how to think,” said Huerkamp, “but we always follow the official Catholic stance,” along with staying in compliance with school rules.

Moderator Mr. Matt Wineski said that the organization encourages students to “write about what you care about,” emphasizing that the club was formed to represent the interests of the student body and focus on the tangible effect of student outreach on the community.

The group will occasionally send out Google forms to understand student responses to current events. The issues addressed are not limited to gun reform, though. The club will also discuss other issues pertaining to their lives. They address issues based on student feedback, such as healthcare reform.

The subject addressed in their most recent meetings is immigration rhetoric. Being careful not to cover immigration policy, club members are encouraged to write about how immigrants are covered in news media. If members don’t feel strongly about immigration they can opt out, but everyone had a strong opinion.

No one is indicted for their personal beliefs on a subject, but everyone in attendance felt that “Media coverage on immigrants violates the principle of innocent until proven guilty,” said Huerkamp, explaining that the group believes that immigrants are presumed to be criminals and that they deserve a more fair and balanced treatment in the media.

Members are encouraged to send letters to their politicians, like Senator Johnny Isakson and Representative Hank Johnson.

The Student Advocacy Club is open to new members and is taking suggestions for new topics.