Equality? Fair taxes? Religious tolerance? What do you care about?  These are the questions that the Fight Apathy campaign asked CCES Upper School students.

Fight Apathy is nationwide campaign aiming to encourage awareness of political issues and other beliefs.  The campaign began three years ago in New Jersey but has now grown to a national campaign that encourages individuals to develop a passion and catalyze and facilitate discussions within schools and communities in order to fight the apathy for which today’s young generation is known.  

On Monday, March 14, Senior Ruthie Perlman, member of the AP Comparative Government and Politics class, began student announcements in assembly with an introduction to the campaign.  “Young people have a terrible reputation for not having political convictions or speaking out about them,” she said.  “Yet, at the end of the day, most people don’t even give us a chance.” Then, she encouraged students to proudly answer the question, “What do you believe in?”

Perlman continued with an introduction to the campaign, urging students to stop by a table in the Upper School second floor commons, grab a sticker and write down on that sticker and on a large poster the things about which they are passionate.  She continued, “Take this opportunity seriously, and remember that this is not about the current presidential race.” The end of her introduction to the project was met with a roaring applause and loud chatter among students and teachers about the causes that they would wear proudly on their stickers.

Following assembly, students raided the supply of #fightapathy stickers, writing the issues about which they are passionate on the stickers and wearing them proudly around the CCES Upper School.  When asked about her opinion on the success of the campaign, Perlman said “Fight Apathy really succeeded in its goal of catalyzing meaningful conversations in the CC  community.  I overheard so many debates and discussions on important issues.  I think everyone’s participation in the campaign really showed the potential of CCES students to evoke powerful social change.”

Perlman added that the campaign could not have happened without the help of AP Comparative Government and Politics teacher Mrs. Carmichael.  She knows that Mrs. Carmichael has plans to continue the campaign next year after Perlman graduates, and shared her aspirations for the campaign’s future. “My hope is that students who weren’t politically minded and up-to-date on current events before may discover a newfound interest in politics.  I am so proud to be a part of such an engaged community of teenagers and so proud to be a Cavalier.”