Best Buddies conducted their annual campaign to end the use of the R-word through a library showcase in late March to promote understanding towards people with special needs and/or disabilities.

After an introduction to Best Buddies, the showcase took a more interactive route with the “Stand Up If” game. Audience members responded to a series of statements such as, “Stand up if you or anyone you know has used the R word before,” or “Stand up if you know someone who has been bullied because of a disability that they had.”

After the ‘Stand Up If” game, each student was asked to write their strengths on one half of a slip of paper and their weaknesses on the other half. Then they were told to rip the paper, separating their strengths from their weaknesses. A basket was passed around for them to crumple the weaknesses and throw them out, symbolizing the focus on personal strengths instead.

A video was shown about how having friends outside of the Special Education community can really help people with learning difficulties. It featured a boy with autism and his experience in school with his best friend, who helped guide him through his tough teenage years, and their friendship lasted beyond Best Buddies.

Students had been given a slip of paper with an adjective on it upon entering the library. After the video everyone was separated into groups and traded papers without looking at them. They had to hold the paper up so everyone except for the person holding the paper could see it. The rest of the group would decide whether or not to take that person on a school trip based on the words on their paper, while that person guessed what their description was.

All of the pieces of paper said something negative, such as “dumb blonde” “irresponsible” “forgetful” and “obnoxious.”

Most library showcases consist of a powerpoint with a lecture and videos, but this one involved the students in several demonstrations to get the message across.

“The purpose of our activities was to show students that the R-word hurts because it is exclusive.” Toni Manfra, advisor of Best Buddies at Warren Hills said, “It’s offensive. It’s derogatory.”

One member of Best Buddies, Sarah Gilligan, said that the negative stigma associated with the R-word is what makes it different from calling someone stupid.

“The main message of the showcase was to pledge to stop using the R word, ‘spread the word to end the word’ is what it was technically called. The R word, if you don’t know, is ‘retarded’ and that is not socially acceptable anymore,” she said.

The goal of Best Buddies is to stop hatred, and that starts with changing intolerant views.

Ms. Manfra said, “Our officers’ consistent message was that language affects attitudes and attitudes affect actions.”