More than 100 Penn State York students, faculty, staff and members of the York community took part in a “Blue Out” and candlelight walk to support the awareness and prevention of child abuse on Thursday, Nov. 17 at the campus. Students in the Human Development and Family Studies (HD FS) Club organized the event to show their support of the victims of the recent events at Penn State and all victims of abuse. To see photos from the event, visit http://goo.gl/8NEIT.
Those who participated walked in silence around the campus carrying candles. The walk culminated in the lobby of the Main Classroom Building where Kelly Moon, instructor in human development and family studies, and Patrick Tanner, director of student and enrollment services delivered brief remarks and led the group in a pledge against child abuse.
Participants then took a pledge, signed their name on a paper Nittany Lion paw and placed it on a lighted tree. The “pledge tree” is on display in the building lobby throughout the rest of the semester and there is the opportunity for anyone who visits campus to add their name to the tree.
The text of the pledge is as follows: “I believe that every child has a right to grow up free from the shadow of abuse. I believe that the responsibility to protect children rests solely in adult hands. I believe that, as adults, we must remain ever vigilant and dedicate no less than the best of ourselves to that purpose. To all the victims of abuse -- male and female, adult and children, known and unknown: I pledge to educate myself about the realities of child abuse; I pledge to give a voice and report any and all suspicions; I pledge to cast a light in the darkness by doing the right thing the first time, every time.”