With the playoffs starting this week, The Bishop's School girls volleyball team is once again a championship contender, but team captain Julie Gantz isn't worried about the Knights' postseason prospects at the moment.
Gantz and fellow senior Sarah Levin – a cross country runner, swimmer and former soccer player for Bishop's – are knee-deep in schedules, speeches and community service.
It's all part of the school's second annual Human Rights Day, which the two student-athletes will co-chair tomorrow. Teachers will surrender their class time for the day. In place of the normal curriculum, about 40 speakers will share insights on human rights issues worldwide.
Chip Pitts, former president of Amnesty International USA, and Peter Irons, a civil rights activist and UCSD political science professor, will be among those speaking.
“The teachers very graciously gave us this time because they believe in what we're doing,” said Gantz, a Clairemont resident. “I think it's important that students see there are ways they can make a difference.”
During the day, students will rotate with their home room groups through a series of talks, each centered on a different part of the world. The schedule is divided into six global regions (Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the United States). Students in different groups will hear different speakers, something Gantz hopes will provoke discussion after the event is over.
“Each (group) is going to have a different experience than the next,” she said. “In the weeks to come, they can talk about what they heard.”
Levin and Gantz aren't the first student-athletes to lead the event. The school's first Human Rights Day was the brainchild of former water polo standout Zealan Hoover. A number of student-athletes have been a part of this year's planning committee.
The international Human Rights Day is observed annually Dec. 10. The girls said they hope tomorrow's event at Bishop's will raise awareness of human rights issues locally and abroad.
“The most important thing is getting students involved,” said Levin, who lives in Del Mar. “Some of us are brought up with so much more than we need. It's eye-opening to see people who have almost nothing.”
Levin said this year's event will look to build on the momentum generated last spring when a number of clubs on the school's La Jolla campus, including one that supports the Invisible Children movement in war-torn countries, added to their membership.
“The day itself was an overwhelming success,” Levin said. “Invisible Children grew about 60 percent just the next day, and they raised a few thousand dollars, which was really impressive.”
Students have sponsored children in foreign countries, pledged support for a school in Uganda, organized a food drive for a children's shelter in Tijuana and improved the campus recycling program.
“The first (event) we had was just spectacular, so I'm really excited about this one,” said Melinda Hennessey, a longtime history teacher and administrator who has taught both girls. “I think the interest in global service has really increased over two or three years ago. It's really amazing.”
Gantz and Levin said their work with the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego pushed them to look for a way to increase awareness on their campus.
After hundreds of hours of planning and proposals, Gantz said she won't be able to relax until tomorrow's final speech ends.
“I'll probably be sitting up (tonight) working on the schedule again,” she said. “Sarah keeps me sane.”
More than a year after receiving approval from the faculty, the girls realize their biggest game day is almost here.
“I want to find some way to give back to the world,” Gantz said, “and maybe (students) will act and inspire someone else to do the same.”
Zach Jones: (760) 752-6751; zach.jones@tlnews.net
