During the current school year, a majority of the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) posters advertising meeting dates have been torn down and vandalized. Although GSA is a school-sanctioned club under Diversity Council, club members believe Mounds View has done little to address the problem.

Last month, after replacing a stolen poster in the commons stairwell, GSA captains noticed that all of the posters were missing. Once the new posters were put up, four out of the six were taken down again on May 6.

After contacting the deans to check the security cameras, the captains say they were told that the school was unable to find the vandals. Because the posters were taken during passing time, the large number of people and the cameras’ poor quality meant that none of the perpetrators could be identified. GSA members said the administration told them nothing more could be done.

Brian Peloquin, a dean who advises the Diversity Council, would not comment. Principal Jeffery Ridlehoover said he was not aware of the issue.

Frustrated with the way administration is handling the issue, members of GSA ask that more will be done to resolve the situation and find the perpetrator(s).

Many GSA members are disappointed with the situation after putting so much work into creating the posters. “We’ve put hours of time, love and care into creating the posters only to have them torn down in a few days,” said Madeline Pape, 10. “It’s really disheartening.”

Co-captain Isabel Bailey-Seiler, 10, is worried that the lack of attention given to the vandalism could lead to an unsafe school environment. “Ripping down these posters isn’t just making people angry, it’s hurting people. If posters are being torn down now, later it can lead to a school that accepts homophobia and transphobia, which then leads to bullying,” said Bailey-Seiler. “And honestly, it makes me afraid.”

However, GSA members acknowledge that the school is unable to do much with the situation. “The main problem is that there isn’t much [the school] can do,” said co-captain Julia Sacay, 11. “Better cameras that work would help a lot and [a greater] respect from the students.”