For the second consecutive year, Grand Valley State University students, faculty and community members gathered together promote the new “r-word”: respect.

Last week, signatures were collected at the Pew and Allendale campuses. By the end, two and a half banners were full.

“Three times more pledged this year than did last year,” said Cassady Watts, president of Students for Special Olympics Advocacy, who was part of the signature collection effort.

The signatures lead to the main event, which was held at 7 p.m. in the Kirkhof Center’s Grand River Room.

While there, community members and students filled the room to show their support while speakers from the Grand Valley Disability Advocates, Students for Special Olympics Advocacy and Best Buddies spoke on the implications of using the word “retard(ed).”

Jessica Walmsley, a GVSU freshman, joined Best Buddies this year.

She began by just hanging out with her buddy and is now involved in additional aspects of the program, from playing basketball to advocating for the end of the ‘r-word.’

“I’m just hoping tonight will help open minds,” Walmsley said. “I hope students can use their words in a beneficial way.”

James Boorsman, another GVSU student and advocator, agreed.

“I would like to see sign up,” Boorsman said. “More importantly, I’d like to see college students see the investment they can make in a kid with special needs. We’re on the same team.”

Laura Berry, GVSU’s director for Best Buddies, spoke about her personal experience with the ridicule people with disabilities receive.

Like many of the other speakers during the course of the event, she said working with students and community members with disabilities has opened her eyes.

“I’ve realized the potential in everybody,” Berry said.

GVDA’s former president Tiffany Korican spoke on the accomplishments of the program and how others could help out.

“My favorite thing to talk about (is) the buttons on the doors at Kirkhof,” Korican said. “We didn’t have those.”

She said before the automatic buttons were installed, students with disabilities would struggle to open doors themselves, or end up sitting out in the cold.

“We work with student organizations to make events more accessible for all students,” she said. “I want you, when you’re going around campus, to search out things that can be changed.”

When all was said and done, the overall message speakers aimed to convey was that humanity is not defined by labels, but rather confined by them. By calling someone the ‘r-word,’ it strips away the very essence of being human.

“I’m a person, not my disability,” said John Leymer, co-director of Best Buddies.

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