Massachusetts Daily Collegian

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A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

A free and responsible press serving the UMass community since 1890

Massachusetts Daily Collegian

‘Bully’ documentary reveals painful reality

MCT

From the national spotlight to Amherst Cinema, “Bully” has been all over.

“Bully” continues to gain recognition due to its riveting trailer and controversy over the film’s initial R rating that would prevent it from being shown in schools.

Amherst Cinema is currently showing “Bully” under its newly awarded PG-13 rating, which allows it to be shown in high schools. The cinema also presented a question and answer period with writer and producer Cynthia Lowen after the film’s showings on Sunday, April 22. Lowen attended Amherst Regional High School and mentioned all of the familiar faces in the audience after receiving a standing ovation. Lowen created this film along with Lee Hirsch, a Hampshire College graduate.

The film opens with a video montage of a young and happy Tyler Long. Long took his life in 2009 because of alleged incessant mental abuse that he faced every day at school from his peers. The documentary interviews Long’s parents as they struggle to cope with the loss of their son as well as attempt to change the school administration’s irresponsibility towards bullying as a whole.

The main focus of the film, however, is on 12-year-old Alex Libby, who endures both physical and mental abuse from his peers on a regular basis. Libby is considered a “geek” because he enjoys learning and does not fit in socially. Even within the first few minutes of the film, viewers see children casually threatening his life.

Libby attends public school in Sioux City, Iowa. The film reveals the shoddy administration in the Sioux City school district that is unequipped to handle instances of bullying. Kim Lockwood, assistant principal at Alex’s school, adds to the problem of overlooking the severity of bullying. When asked about Lockwood’s reaction to the film, Lowen replied it was not until she saw the reactions of 17,000 people at the “Bully” screening in Sioux City that Lockwood thought she had done anything wrong.

“Bully” also follows other students from all over the country that encounter bullying on a daily basis. Sixteen-year-old Kelby Johnson has been ostracized for coming out as a lesbian in “Bible Belt” Oklahoma, and kids have even gone so far as to strike her with a moving vehicle.

The film shows 14-year-old Ja’Maya Jackson who was so fed up with bullying that she brought a gun onto the school bus in order to scare off her perpetrators. Jackson was charged with 22 counts of kidnapping and attempted assault, while her bullies received no punishment whatsoever.

Some of the footage of kids’ bullying, as well as the way that Lockwood approaches her school’s problems, can be shocking. The poisonous mantra “kids will be kids, boys will be boys” is prevalent among the attitudes of the interviewed school administration. And although the children understand that they are being filmed, it does not stop them from beating on Libby on camera. Lowen did say that Libby reported worse bullying when the cameras were not around, and once when the filmmakers were out of town, Libby’s parents found him unconscious in their yard after school one day.

Lowen also spoke about how easy it was for the filmmakers to obtain releases from every parent of a child that bullied on camera. Lowen recounted that one mother broke down and had to turn away when screening the footage, and declared that she wanted her son to be accountable for his actions caught on tape.

During the shooting of the film, Libby’s abuse becomes so concerning that the filmmakers decided to reveal the footage to his parents and teachers. The reaction of Lockwood proves to be disheartening.

The film heartrendingly displays the effects of bullying on its victims. At one point when Alex’s mom asks him how it feels when he is bullied, he replies, “I’m starting to think I don’t feel anything anymore.”

The strength in this documentary is Lowen’s ability to evoke emotions in the revelation of the hidden bullying epidemic among school-aged children. For those that often overlook the severity of the situation, she places the horrid reality directly in front of the viewer.

The Stand For The Silent movement, founded by parents of an 11-year-old boy that committed suicide due to bullying, adds to the film with empowering speeches by the parents of these children and hopes to end bullying through teaching kids to stand up for their peers.

When asked how Libby is doing in school now, Lowen replied that he has become an “outspoken ham” and that in an airport in Washington, D.C., a flock of girls came up to him begging for his autograph. One can only hope that the film can inspire kids like Libby as well as bullies, students that witness bullying, parents and school administrators to do something about this horrible epidemic.

To learn more about the film or what you can do to stop bullying, visit www.thebullyproject.com.

Acacia DiCiaccio can be reached at [email protected].

 

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  • J

    JohnApr 5, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    On of the most offensive and uncaring statements “ Boys will be boys”. What kind of society do what if we keep ignoring this problem?

    Reply
  • T

    Tez CarrollMar 7, 2022 at 12:44 pm

    Kim Lockwood must be removed from her job as should Paula Crandall. These people are completely clueless about educating children and on the subject of bullying, especially Kim Lockwood. She needs a job working away from the public, children,adults, just any body. She’s the worst and is responsible for the bullying in the school where she acts as the AP. AWFUL.

    Reply
  • S

    SarahNov 4, 2020 at 6:14 pm

    I’m watching this for the second time. I have been in education for 17 years. Fortunately I have never witnessed any bullying at this extreme level but I know it exists. Im not sure why I didn’t notice how awful Kim Lockwood was until watching this time. She is a sorry excuse for an administrator, to put it nicely. How dare she make a child who is getting bullied shake the hand of his tormentor as if that’s going to solve everything? How dare she tell parents of a child who is being stabbed, strangled, punched, kicked, verbally assaulted and threatened that she rode the bus and the kids were “good as gold” when they have video proof that they are in fact NOT? And then she has the nerve to flaunt her new grandchild’s picture, completely changing the subject. I am so angry that her solution to all of these problems is to just brush everything off. I hope she is no longer employed in any role in the education system.

    Reply
    • B

      BillieFeb 3, 2022 at 5:15 pm

      I watched it for the first time!!! WAS SHOCKED!!! Completely agree with everything you said!!! that poor kid DID NOT want to shake his hand And she made him feel like he was the problem. And he even pointed out to her all those horrible things he had done. And all she could say was “ I think you guys will be friends in the future“
      WTH!!!! And then to flaunt her grandkids!!!
      The vice principal was no better!!
      I REALLY HOPE THEY WERE FIRED!!!

      Reply
  • J

    JudyNov 3, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    I completely agree with the comments about Kim Long. Watching her mediate was a joke. She was completely inept, clueless, and useless! She clearly dies not know what she’s doing. I cannot believe she still has her job. I would sign a petition to get her out.

    Punish the bullies. You bully on the bus, then guess what. You don’t get to ride the bus anymore. Let your parents figure out how to get you to school. You bully it at lunch, then guess what. You don’t get to go and have lunch in the cafeteria. Bully on the playground, then guess what, you don’t get to go play on the playground. It’s as simple as that. They’ll get the message. I was a teacher for 10 years in New York City, and that’s how I dealt with it. Bullies get the message real quick. And as for them learning bad behavior at home, that may be true. But they know how to behave in different environments. If the school is going to allow it, and they can get away with it, then they’re going to keep acting that way. But if they go into a school building where that is not allowed, and they will be punished for it, then they will not do it. Fact.

    Reply
  • E

    E RileyOct 11, 2020 at 3:42 am

    I’m disturbed to no end, by the non sense approach to managing behavior problems that exist in this school. In stead of listening to the parents this AP decides to talk about herself. She needs training and to be REMOVED from her role; as does her “ admin “ poor excuse for a investigation. This is extremely disturbing: if my child were attending this school under these conditions I’d seek counsel for the extreme negligence by staff. NOT ACCEPTABLE!

    Reply
  • G

    Gem WillittsJan 8, 2015 at 5:26 am

    I AM ABSOLUTELY PISSED THE F*CK OFF. HOW DARE THAT F*CKING COW OF A ASS VICE PRINCIPAL DOE NOTHING BUT BULLSH*TING HER PARENTS OF THESE KIDS, BULLSH*TTING THE SCHOOL AND HERSELF BUT MOST OF ALL TURNING HER FAT F*CKING ASS AWAY FROM THESE KIDS THAT ARE GETTING BULLIED. SUSPEND THE LITTLE F*CKERS OR EXPELL THEM FOR BULLYING CAUSE IF NOTHING IS DONE ABOUT IT, IT WILL CONTINUE AND IT WILL HET WORSE FOR GHOSE CHILDREN GETTING BULLIED AND ITS GOING TO GET TO THE POINT OF ONE IF NOT MORE OF THOSE KIDS TAKING THEIR LIVES AS A LAST RESORT SINCE THE ADULTS THAT ARE SUPPOSE TO BE THE ONES TO CARE FOR AND KEEP SAFE AND PROTECT THEM JUST ARE NOT DOING THEIR F*CKING JOBS!!!!! AND IF ONE CHILD TAKES THEIR OWN LIFE DUE TO THUS, THEN THAT CHILDS BLOOD IS ONE FATSO KIM LOCKWOOD AND COMPLETE NIEVE TO LIFE PAULA CLADALL PERIOD!!!! Take off the blinders and lift that fat to see that there are bullies in your school that will cause a child to do the very extreme thing of TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE because no school official did anything about it, as. a parent, you disgust me. I hope you grandchildren go through bullying as some point of schooling, I et a fiddle of gold thats when something gets accomplished and not a minute sooner. The staff at this school including the idiot bus drivers DISGUST ME BEYOND BELIEF & I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED TO OF HAD YOU AS A FIGURE OF AUTHORITY. MAKE ME SICK.

    Reply
  • S

    Shannon FoxJul 14, 2013 at 3:50 am

    Dear Kim Lockwood. First I want to say that I raised two fine sons, both of which were very popular and bright students, in fact, my son John Michael has an extremely high IQ. I state this because I saw the bullying from the other students to those who were not as popular.

    Now to you KIM! I understand you went on the road to promote the movie. I am surprised someone didn’t take you out. How do I say this kindly? You are the worst excuse of a Principal/Assistant that I have ever seen. You are completely clueless when it comes to children and their behaviours. You embarrassed us all, and you should be ashamed of your actions. I am surprised after the show aired that you still, one, were alive, and at the least, still had your job.

    You are the worst excuse for a human being I have ever seen. How dare you make this crumbling young boy, shake hands with a moron and then go out of your way to make him look bad in front of the bullying moron. AND TO THOSE PARENTS OF THOSE BRATS ON THE BUS: TAKE NOTE…IF I had just one hour with you….HMMM.

    I was the PTO President of one of the finest schools in Connecticut. Then I sent my sons to private schools because of morons like you KIM.

    I do not know how you sleep at night, but I can tell you this….YOU ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHILD IN YOUR CARE, THAT HAS COMMITTED SUICIDE OR THINKS OF IT EVERYDAY, JUST TO GET AWAY FROM YOUR STUPIDITY WHEN IT COMES TO REAL LIFE WITH KIDS.

    Watch out Kim, for I will start a petition to not only get you out of that school ALONG WITH THE miserable excuse of a human, Paula Crandall. You both are a true mess. And everyone now knows it. You have blood on your hands and I cannot be more pissed at your neglect and moron behaviour with these children.

    Had my child been in your school…you would have been gone long ago…but it is not too late to get you out.

    Do us all a favor…don’t go anywhere to promote this film. You are an embarrassment to us all.

    Reply
  • N

    Nivek NansorbJul 11, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    This article is more evidence that bullying is a national tragedy affecting young people across America and throughout Massachusetts.

    We all need to take action against the source of bullying and let kids, parents, teachers, principals and politicians know that bullying is NOT okay. We all need to do something to make a difference.

    An amazing young singer-songwriter named Becca Levy is doing just that.

    She has started a music based anti bullying group called Right Now.

    Here’s a link to her video for a cover of “Right Now” by Van Halen. The purpose of the video is to promote awareness to kids using both music and the Internet. The video begins with a public service announcement and is full of statistics that people of all ages need to see.

    Becca lives in Washington, D.C. and just turned sixteen years old.

    http://www.rightnowagainstbullying.com

    Reply
  • A

    Adam BriereMay 14, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    This was an excellent article highlighting the problems of bullying in today’s schools. It is a shame that the bullies do not realize how scarring their actions are presently and the effect it will have on their victims in the future. Where does this bullying come from? Are they witnessing this at home? Siblings? Parents? Is it peer pressure?
    The article was very well written by Acacia. She did an excellent job bringing the story to light from the movie. Nice going.

    Reply