Petition of Voices

Petition of Voices

NYRA-Montgomery County’s “Petition of Voices” has begun circulation for the 03-04 school year. This petition, first started last year, calls upon all high schools in the Maryland county to create a student advocate position. This faculty member will defend students accused of violating school rules. In half-an-hour of petitioning the chapter collected 140 signatures outside…

NYRA-AU to Challenge Alcohol Policy

NYRA-AU to Challenge Alcohol Policy

The American University chapter for the National Youth Rights Association announced last week its plans to challenge the school’s parental notification policy regarding alcohol violations. “AU students are mostly legal adults. The school should stop their “tattle” policy to mommy and daddy if they are caught with a beer on campus.” explained the chapter’s treasurer,…

NYRA Speaks Out Against Drug Testing

NYRA Speaks Out Against Drug Testing

In a 5-4 decision the US Supreme Court deemed random, suspicionless drug testing of students involved in extra-curricular activities to be constitutional. NYRA has issued a press release expressing frustration over the Court’s decision, “In a world of ever increasing penalties, restrictions and ‘zero-tolerance’ for students, it is frightening to note that even ones own…

A Fight For Student Freedom

A Fight For Student Freedom

A student in Cranford, NJ unites a school against it’s “zero tolerance” regulation towards “non-model” behavior off school grounds. The policy states that “being a leader is a 24 hour commitment”, that all participants of co-curricular activities fully responsible for any immoral or illegal behavior outside of school. As student Josh Lasky puts it, “I…

Victory for New Chapter

Victory for New Chapter

The newly formed Augusta, Georgia NYRA chapter has already won its first battle. The local high school attempted to ban all private displays of the Confederate Flag and after pressure from the NYRA-AUG chapter the school removed the policy. Students of all races were upset over the new policy since it limited their freedom of…