The She's Someone campaign is run by the Justice, Peace and Advocacy council to specifically target the disrespect towards women carelessly shown by too many young men – this can be shown through words, actions and thoughts. This campaign is about being clear on the ideal world in which we want to live and also about pointing out the types of behaviours we want to stamp out as a college. We aim to build up literacy surrounding the issue and empowering us, as young men, to be the ones to stand up when we see it happen at school, and in the community. The campaign is all about a conversation from young men to young men – about things that we can change.

Members of our Council have decided they will no longer be silent around such nonsense and they will invite their peers to speak out also. This is intended to be young men having what can be a tough or awkward conversation with other young men. Known as our “She's Someone” campaign, it looks at shifting the mindset of young men from accepting casual disrespect and objectification to being deliberately respectful and inclusive. The title “She's Someone” takes inspiration from the idea that you shouldn’t respect a woman just because “she is someone's daughter” or that “she is someone's mum”, but rather because she is her own person entitled to and worthy of respect in her own right.

Working together with all the Senior School Tutors, we offered all Senior Students the chance to participate in this campaign if they wish. They had a chance to take a stand, make a public commitment against disrespectful thoughts, comments and jokes about women. Or put more positively – they can stand up for a world where there is healthy respect and support between young men and women. Any young man that has participated, was permitted to swap their school tie for an alternative tie for the day on Wed 18^th August. The young men were encouraged to wear their different ties with a mixture of pride and resolve. Pride that they are part of the campaign and willing to be part of a better future. Resolve, because for some it will not be easy to achieve and they will need to work at it.

This is just one of the things happening at Aquinas College to create a regular dialogue about things that matter. We are all striving to create a culture of regular, open and honest discourse about the attitudes and actions between people – especially between young men and young women. In this instance, we are speaking directly to the young men because it is young men that have the capacity to make the changes we are seeking – for the benefit of all.