Platform Statement of Miss America 2003 Erika Harold

"It is by those who have suffered that the world has been changed." - Tolstoy

In ninth grade, I was the victim of pervasive and severe racial and sexual harassment. I was incessantly called degrading names, my home was vandalized numerous times, and vulgar songs were sung about me during class. In many instances, teachers and school officials were cognizant of the harassment and took no steps to intervene. When I told one school official about my classmates� discussions of their plans to pool their lunch money together to buy a rifle to shoot me, he suggested that my problems would be stymied if I would only be more submissive, like the other girls.

Ultimately, after realizing that school officials were unwilling to take steps to protect me, I felt forced to transfer to a different high school, with my self-esteem and sense of optimism greatly diminished. I was fortunate to have had a strong support system, comprised of family, friends and a faith community, which enabled me to resolve these issues and reclaim my dignity. However, far too many young people lack this support and are forced to suffer in silence.

According to a 2001 survey sponsored by the American Association of University Women, more than 80 percent of students in grades 8 to 11 have been subjected to some form of harassment in their respective schools. This harassment, ranging from name-calling and physical intimidation to assault, can diminish the self-esteem, physical and emotional health of the victim. As a result, many victims resort to drugs, sex, alcohol, violence and even suicide as a means of alleviating their pain.

Although many people tolerate this cruelty as an inevitable rite of passage, as Miss America, I am issuing a national call to action, challenging every segment of American society to take a proactive, comprehensive approach to eradicating this culture of degradation and indifference.

Young People: Young people must take an active role in ushering in an age of civility, being willing to defend their fellow classmates who are victimized, and refraining from engaging in the harassment of others. I will attempt to shatter the shroud of shame that often silences victims of peer-to-peer harassment by sharing my story of being harassed and overcoming the effects of victimization. As a role model, I will also encourage young people to abstain from drugs, sex and alcohol and explain how this commitment helped me to protect, respect and define myself.

Parents: Parents can play an integral role by taking this issue seriously and being willing to initiate conversations with their children about the importance of treating all people with respect and serving as advocates for their children if they are victimized. I will work to provide parents with the resources needed to address these issues. Parental involvement and guidance is instrumental in shaping their children into young men and women of moral courage, capable of being agents of positive change.

Educators/School Officials: I will encourage every school district to formulate and enforce equitable and effective anti-harassment policies that are easy for students to comprehend. In addition, schools should implement anti-harassment curriculums aimed at providing young people with the tools and awareness necessary to improve interpersonal relations among their peers.

State Legislators: As there are 23 states that do not have current or pending legislation that addresses bullying, I will seek to convince each of these states to adopt anti-harassment legislation aimed at combating this behavior.

In return, I promise that my year as Miss America will not be about me, but rather about marshalling the nation's collective resources and conscience towards the achievement of these goals.