According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, bullying is defined by the abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful, etc.

At James Bowie High School, the topic of bullying is taken seriously with the creation of programs such as No Place For Hate and Stand Up Bowie to end bullying as well as counselors and faculty being of assistance to students.

For students who are being bullied and just need a place to talk to someone, Bowie provides a variety of resources.

“The Vida Clinic is an on campus mental health center for students, Child Studies coordinator Stephanie McGraw said. “It is not a part of Austin ISD and it’s counseling sessions are based on a referral process from counselors where you can freely talk to another person.”

Assistant principal, Lawrence Britton shares his administrative aspect on the discipline of bullying on campus.

“When a student comes in with a concern about bullying or harassment we listen to the student and have them write a written statement,” Britton said. “We investigate to find out if the concern is accurate and if there were witnesses we interview them and get their statement. Then we see if there is any cooperation to be done and we notify the parents of the complaint.”

As students grow older, they can become more disillusioned with their actions towards others.

“For this age group bullying tends to be a fairly common situation,” counselor Katelyn Williams said. “However on our campus we work really hard to minimize the number of bullying instances we have.”

Williams explains how being a counselor shows a different side of dealing with the people involved in bullying.

“My job is to really look at the emotional and social effects of bullying,” Williams said. “Working on restoring the confidence in an individual who has been bullied and working with that individual to process those feelings and appropriately address that situation as well as working with someone who is bullying and finding the reasons to why they’re bullying other students.”

The anti-bullying programs in place at Bowie do more than just parades and simply stamping a finger on a poster.

“They are really amazing programs to help our students not only to see model behavior that is very positive but also feel like they are able to join in with a group who is making good choices,” Williams said. “I think that having as many programs on our campus is very valuable because we have strength in numbers and the more people that join and participate in programs like that really help our students and identify that this is not a place that tolerates bullying or misbehavior like that. It really gives students an outlet so that they don’t have to partake in bullying and that they can be part of the solution and not the problem.”

Bowie is a school that takes an active role in dealing with the effects of bullying on students.

“We also have an amazing administrative staff who wants to help students from our principal and assistant principals who want to address the discipline side of things,” Williams said. “To our counseling staff, social work staff as well as teachers that want to help be there to support students who may have been bullied or maybe students who are trying to change their ways and have been bullying others.”

Since the anti-bullying programs only come around once a year, Williams suggests a solution to improving the negativity of bullying.

“Our bowie leaders, such as PALS, who are trying to promote no bullying are making more covert impacts,” Williams said. “But I think that having something to remind students each and every day to not bully would be a great asset on our campus.”

Students helping other students ultimately plays the most important role in changing the way that Bowie views bullying.

“I think a big part of bullying has to do with group mentality and by talking with other students and deciding if we see someone that’s bullying we are going to stand out against it and support each other and say that it’s not right, it’s not acceptable behavior and that’s it’s not what a bulldog does.”