Since the beginning of time, the world was riddled with conflict: man versus self, man versus man, man versus society and man versus nature. At the advent of every fight, there may be a disagreement between two groups—a disagreement that holds hatred and aggression at the heart of it all. What many people don’t realize is that war goes on everyday inside the walls of every home, school, work and playing field. It is human nature to often find activities that provide the same effects of warfare, while still attaining mental satisfaction. In other words, humans tend to find alternative activities to find purpose. In the case of some of our Sequoits, that acitivty is fighting.

By definition, fighting is the physical or emotional force in order to defeat another person or group of people. In the past few months, there has been what many view as an unusual uproar of fighting, both physical and verbal, in the halls of Antioch Community High School. These fights also lead to a chain reaction, both inside and outside of school, presenting itself as behavior that is acceptable for other underclassmen to partake in and an odd celebration on social media. These conflicts have left many teachers, students and parents concerned with the reputation that follows these conflicts.

“[The fighting] is unusual,” dean Matthew Jones said. “I am new to Antioch, but from my experiences talking to staff and students, it is definitely something that is out of the norm.”

The reality of these fights is formed from a small group of kids that light a spark. A spark that, if not extinguished, will transform into a wildfire. The kids that tend to involve themselves in such physical and emotional distress are believed to have a background that exploits similar behavior. Immaturity is a significant aspect of development during adolescence that can delay responsibility and wisdom if influenced poorly. Being that most of the conflicts have taken place with underclassmen, it calls into question whether or not this is a maturity issue.

“A lot of times kids have these unanswered questions,” Jones said. “Instead of going to each other to talk like a mature, responsible person, they get in one another’s face, which, in turn, causes something bigger than that.”

Having mature conversations are a learned behavior that kids need to obtain. This type of behavior allows for positive-reinforcement in the end. The world doesn’t revolve around everyone liking each other. There will always be people in life with conflicting views; however, approaching negative situations in a civilized manner eliminates escalation of the disagreement. The golden rule states to treat others how you want to be treated.

“People just don’t know how to get along with others,” freshman Jackson Gutke said. “They have different opinions and choose to argue about it.”

To students born in the 21st Century, technology has made up the world around them. Social media is a vast network that connects millions of people around the world; however, in our modern-technology-driven-culture, social media has become a silent killer of our present and future society.

“Nowadays, everyone sees everything through social media,” Jones said. “Whatever happens in a school, people know about it within an hour.”

Without social media, many students throughout the building would be oblivious to the fact that a fight even happened, with the exception of the first-hand witnesses. With today’s generation, it is arguable that teenagers lack social and communication skills that take place away from an electronic device. Oftentimes, things said online get misinterpreted in a negative manner. These comments create a negative atmosphere which resulted in physical violence.

“A lot of the underclassmen tend to be immature,” junior Matthew Becker said. “They talk trash about each other for no reason which progresses into conflict and fighting.”

Following each fight, the deans took action in order to resolve the conflict. First, they sat both the victim and aggressor down to have a conversation; a real conversation that should have occurred in place of the physical altercation. Next, they got the students’ parents involved, as well as other social workers or psychologists that are needed. Both students had time to voice their opinion while administration observers the footage of the fight that occurred. This is common practice in the dean’s office.

Students need to understand the ramifications of hurting others physically and emotionally. By law, SB100, Illinois is required to take certain action before expelling a student. Administration must attempt to change a student’s behavior before sending them to an outplacement school. This requires involving the parents and other faculty, as well as detailed documentation of the due process.

“I believe in giving kids the chance to prove that they have changed,” Jones said.

The administration has been working endlessly to put a stop to the violence that is taking place within the halls of ACHS. During every passing period, the deans and teachers have made sure to interact with students more, while keeping an eye out for any possible outbreaks. Earlier this month, the Antioch Police Department gave a presentation to the freshman and sophomore classes on taking a responsible course of action when in controversial situations. According to administration, fighting is not what it means to be a Sequoit. Partaking in physical misconduct will not be tolerated at ACHS. Antioch is not only a school, but a community that is home to many people. People of families and people that are going to be the change that they wish to see in the world. Those people will define Antioch. Those people will show how big our small town really is.

“A Sequoit is someone who has respect, responsibility and pride in everything that they do,” senior Gabriel Tijerina said. “ The fighting has been unusual, but it doesn’t define Antioch as a school or community. Antioch seeks to build a learning environment that is beneficial and safe to all students and that will not change.”