Multimedia presentation targets bullying, boosts diversity

There may have been more than 700 students and faculty present during a presentation on Friday, but at times the auditorium was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The multimedia presentation by R5 Production's Mike Donohue encouraged students to be accepting of diversity, open to other's attitudes and opposed to alcohol and drugs.

But it was far from your standard, preaching presentation. Donohue related a hard knocks life that included drug usage and abuse - even being stabbed by his mother - in a way that left students speechless at times, and laughing at others.

'"You look around and it was amazing. The kids weren't even whispering to each other," said Board of Education member John Vadney following the hour-long presentation. Middle schools students took part in the presentation first and were followed by high school students.

The assembly started off light heartedly with a bloopers video followed by Donohue's calling of faculty, students and even Principal Hakim Jones on stage to take part in an impromptu dance contest. But Donohue got to the heart of the message quickly, relaying his own life's travails and talking about why its important to not judge others.

"Don't  just look at the outside and think you know somebody," Donohue said after talking about a student at another school who had been the most popular and most athletic in his school, but inside was devastated by his mother's lack of acceptance.

The assembly left many students seeking more - whether it was the high school students who gathered with Donohue afterwards to relay their own problems or middle school students, some of whom were brought to tears, meeting with counselors after their assembly.

Following the presentation, students lined up in the cafeteria to sign a large anti-bullying canvas placard with a pledge to "I will walk a mile" on it.