A core group of around 20 students are completing a 20-hour peer helping course with psychologist Dr. Barbara Varenhorst. This group calls itself ROCK, and they have also planned and executed many school-wide events to increase a sense of community and "connectedness" on campus. These events include a "Speed Friending" event where people met 12 others and answered a given question, "Six Degrees of Separation" where students asked questions and found connections among six (or more) people, a "Friendly Frosh Quad Invasion" where upperclassmen introduced themselves to freshmen and ate lunch with them, "Appreciation Grams" where students wrote kind notes to others on campus, and many others.
On their website (http://rockatgunn.wordpress.com), ROCK (Reach Out. Care. Know.) describe themselves and their mission this way:
We are students who are committed to listening and talking with other students about anything and everything. We are here to listen and share our experiences. ROCK is a peer advisory group/student support group that is completely student-run. We are also an outreach group that hopes to create connections around campus and build a strong campus community in which all students feel welcome.
This group was formed in response to the events that happened at the end of the 08-09 school year. The Gunn community truly came together and we hope to continue that sense of community and let people know that there are a lot of people at Gunn who even though you may not know them they are there for you and would like to listen, talk, and help in any way. It is also a way for students to connect with one another.
Plus, it always seems less daunting to talk to one of your peers–talking to people who’ve been through the same kinds of situations can really put things into perspective. Anyone can be someone’s rock. That’s the whole point. We just want to spread this concept and encourage communication among students.
We have a drop-in system during the school year, and students can pretty much talk to any of the rocks who are at the labeled “ROCK Table” in the Library. Rocks are there during their preps, but they may or may not be there everyday. You can also contact rocks via email/phone."
These students represent the very best of the Gunn community, and we are enormously proud of them.
Paul Dunlap
Instructional Supervisor, English
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