On Jan. 30, students across the district left campus during class in protest of ICE and their detainment tactics, but walking out isn’t the only way to take a stand.

As students, there are so many ways we can not only exercise our basic rights, but also speak up for whatever it is we believe in, with many of our strongest resources available right here on campus.

Millikan PEACE Law teacher Eric Reynolds listed starting or joining clubs, speaking out during lunch, and even attending school board meetings as ways students can passionately express their beliefs.

“Students have every right to be heard,” Reynolds stated, emphasizing that by taking initiative and speaking out, students can make a real change in their schools and communities.

Generally, students are allowed to express themselves and their opinions freely as long as their actions don’t “disrupt the learning environment” or “create a safety concern,” Reynolds said, which gives opportunity for several different forms of student expression to be seen.

“I speak out on my Instagram and towards my peers,” comments PEACE junior Vienna Stonis, who believes “young minds are the future,” and that speaking out is incredibly important in this day and age.

Stonis’ interest in politics drives her passion for speaking out, but for students who don’t know where to start, she recommends participating in boycotts, supporting workers on strike, and only listening to music artists who “publically speak out and use their platforms for good.”

These actions don’t go unnoticed either. The Jan. 30 walkout here at Millikan saw a sizable portion of student participants, with photos and videos from the protest garnering over 200,000 views across TikTok and Instagram on the Corydon’s social media pages alone. Students are breaking the silence and people are listening.

Regardless of age, student voices are formidable. The companies and causes we choose to support speak volumes, and our vocalness on campus creates ripples outside of it.