Civil rights team student's efforts recognized

PARIS — A Civil Rights Team student from the Oxford Hills Middle School was one of three students from across the state to throw out the first ball to the Portland Sea Dogs at Hadlock Field in Portland Monday night in celebration of “Diversity Day.”

“It was extremely exciting,” said Cheyenne Pollard, a Paris resident and 8th-grade student.

Pollard joined 650 students from civil rights teams across the state and state Attorney General William J. Schneider at the ball park for the pre-game ceremony, which included recognition of the teams.

The students are working with the Maine Civil Rights Team Project to increase school safety and reduce the incidents of bias-motivated harassment and violence.

As part of the Diversity Day celebration, Pollard was on the pitcher's mound with the attorney general and two other students to throw the ceremonial first ball.

“I was extremely excited to be able to meet him,” Pollard said. "He shook my hand." Schneider also signed the baseball she threw that she kept as a souvenir.

“We want to recognize our student civil rights teams for encouraging students to see differences as positive,” Schneider said in a statement released before the game. “These young leaders and their dedicated advisers are creating a culture of respect in their schools and communities. I want to thank the Sea Dogs for putting the spotlight on these great kids and the Civil Rights Team Project.”

Pollard, who became a member of the Oxford Hills Middle School Civil Rights Team this year, said bullying is probably the same at her school as it is across the state.

“Kids are just ignorant really. I never really let it bother me but I know it bothers other kids,” said Pollard, who uses a wheelchair because of spinal muscular atrophy, an inherited disease that causes muscular degeneration.

Pollard said that as a team member, she and others try to educate other students about the effects of bullying and discrimination.

“We just try to promote no bullying and equal rights for all people in my school,” she said.

“It's just pretty much they (bullies) think they're being cool picking on kids and being mean. It's really not a good thing,” Pollard said. “I know what it's like to be picked on and ridiculed for being different.”

The team has talked to students in other classes, and done a lot of fundraising events this year to promote awareness. They will also submit a film, entitled “What's wrong with being different?” to this year's Oxford Hills School District-wide annual film festival.