Youth Brigade

 Ah, youth. It gives me solace to know that the generation that is coming up now is ready to take the reins of not just this nation of ours, but of the world as we know it. Whether it is climate change or the crisis in the Middle East, these kids have the power and they know how to use it. Not content to sit idly by while their planet becomes a place where they do not want to live, they are taking to the streets.

Like the students from Mount Nebo Middle School in Payson, Utah. Were they trying to get their administration to take threats to student safety and promote gun control on and around their campus? No. Were they hoping to generate awareness about waste disposal and recycling? No. Perhaps they wanted to get more student involvement in grass roots political movements within their state? Not exactly. 

The walkout that occurred this past week at Mount Nebo was regarding the school's dress code. 

Okay. Fair enough. Let's stick it to the man. Nobody's going to tell me what to wear!

Except that wasn't the way it went down. The students who staged a walkout at the middle school were hoping that the powers that be would more strictly enforce the dress code.

To discourage furries. 

According to WebMD, a furry is someone who has an interest in animals with human qualities, and who sometimes dresses up as a cartoon-like version of an animal. According to the protesters, the school’s “furry” population is accused of biting, scratching, spraying air freshener on, barking at and chasing other students. As for the "powers that be,"  Nebo School District Public Information Officer Seth Sorensen explained the reports of students dressing as animals are “a little bit inaccurate,” saying students wearing headbands with ears are similar to students wearing bows and sports jerseys. Sorensen said dressing up is “just what students of this age do.” He insists that it's more about misinformation and rumors than real trouble. 

What do the real furries think? A local Furry named Strudel showed up to speak to the media, insisting that “School is for learning. It’s a place of education, first and foremost.”

And learning to pitch a fuss, apparently.