MURRAY, Utah — Bullying continues to be a problem nationwide, and some Cottonwood High School students decided to do something about.
They conducted a social experiment exploring the issue of bullying in schools and caught it all on camera.
With a deadline looming and a story due for the school’s “Colt News,” three Cottonwood High School Seniors took the matter of bullying into their own hands.
“We decided that we kind of wanted to do a public experiment,” Trevor Beecher said.
Trevor was set to play the bully, Taylor Winch the victim, and Hunter Andruski was recording it all behind a hidden camera. What unfolded had all three shocked.
Beecher said: “At one point I remember I got so mad I was like, ‘We’re done. We’re not filming anymore. I’m so mad.’”
Student after student, and even some adults, turned a blind eye to what they were seeing.
Hunter Andruski remembers, “I was like, this isn’t going to work because people are just going to stop and ask, but no: they just walked right past, and it was really shocking, and it was sad too.”
Taylor Winch adds, “It was truly saddening to see all the people just walk by and not care.”
Some students claimed they knew the actors, or thought it was a joke, but not good enough excuses according to these three seniors.
Beecher urges: “Don’t be the one that just stands there and watches. If you know something is wrong, whether they’re your friend or not, you need to be able to stand up for what you know is right or wrong.”
There were some who stood up, which was a relief to see for these experimenters and video creators.
Winch – who played the victim – said, “I was fake being beat up and I felt, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is amazing that somebody would step up for me.’”
These students said if their efforts help just one person, the video is a success.
“Stand up in that situation and don’t be afraid to help the people around you and don’t bully,” Andruski said.
The video has gotten nearly 1,500 views. The students say they are brainstorming their next video topic.
