Anxiety is an issue that has plagued me for a good portion of my my time at Hill, but I was always able to find comfort in meditation and deep reflection.

My social anxiety is an irrational phobia of people who, in reality, carry no ill will towards me. Knowing that there was nothing to fear in the first place was instrumental in my overcoming the urge to isolate myself, and in creating healthy relationships.

At Hill there is a much more complex problem that exists between the male and female students.

There are circumstances when girls are justifiably anxious and stressed when they are around boys. Trust me when I say anxiety is not a good feeling, and can in fact be quite debilitating.

I’m sad to say neither the young women at hill, nor the administration know the true extent of the disrespect and questionable behavior that goes on behind closed doors in every male dorm.

I hear boys talk about girls as if they were slot machines that should be played over and over until you get lucky. No regard is paid to anything she might say or feel during the process, and if she has the bravery to turn down your barbaric advances, she is branded with numerous names and insults I will not repeat.

This isn’t meant to be a condemnation of Hill`s male students, as I find it extremely unlikely that every single boy admitted to Hill is bigoted or backwards thinking. There are plenty who act like ordinary people, free from the desire to harass and heckle the girls they meet.

The issue is that the administration can tell us the right thing to do during a meeting, but as soon as we leave, it is up to our own moral compasses to adhere to a set of good values. The burden of proof should be on us as Hill males to earn the respect of the community, and set an example for boys making the transition to adulthood.

We need to police ourselves for our own sake, not wait until an adult scolds us into action.

We should pride ourselves in a school with students that exemplify excellence in all areas, but that isn’t possible given the current air of hostility.

We need to acknowledge the weight of our words, and empathize with each other.

We need to leave our comfort zones and do the right thing especially when it is difficult to do so.

The deplorable actions of a small body of individuals can be handled easily enough, it is only when a culture develops around this behavior that our community stagnates. It is up to us as students to foster a culture of gender inclusivity and trust before we lose the aspect of family that permeates our campus.