Protesting Won't Affect Admission To Rowan, School Says

GLASSBORO, NJ — Disciplinary actions taken against students who participate in peaceful protests will not affect high schoolers' chances of getting into Rowan University, the university said on Twitter.

The statement came in response to a student at Cherry Hill High School East who asked the university directly on Twitter about a protest at the school that took place on Monday.

“I am a student at Cherry Hill High School East. We are having peaceful protests but, our principal is threatening suspension,” the student said on Twitter. “Will this effect our chances of getting into the university and/or if already accepted will it chance us being able to go to Rowan?”

“Participating in a peaceful protest will not affect your acceptance,” the university responded.
Students at the Camden County high school were protesting the suspension of a teacher who said he was concerned about his school's safety following a school shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school earlier this month. The school principal said participation in the protest could result in a suspension or not being allowed to go to the prom.

Students at Eastern Regional High School, Southern Regional High School and Middletown High School also staged recent walkouts. In fact, high school students across the country have been planning walkouts to protest gun violence in the wake of the shootings in Florida that left 17 dead. While some administrators have been supportive of the protests, others have said participating students will be suspended.

A handful of other universities put out official statements on the issue, including Rider, Rutgers, Monmouth and Drew. Princeton said students who act on their conscience in peaceful, principled protest will receive full consideration in the admissions process. The College Of New Jersey told nj.com that they would be overlooking protest-related punishments.

Patch file photo