Bullying at School

Bullying May Have Led to Two More Teen Suicides

In separate events, two teenagers are believed to have committed suicide in response to bullying. Just when we thought that horrible trend had passed, the two unrelated deaths occurred this past Saturday. Lance Lundsten from Minnesota and Tiffani Maxwell from Pennsylvania both allegedly took their own lives after being bullied at school. Lance Lundsten, 18-year-old student from Miltona, Minnesota, killed himself on Saturday evening according to a local station, KSAX. The local sheriff’s office "confirmed to KSAX that they believed Lundsten’s death was a suicide," though the exact cause of death is unknown pending an autopsy. Lundsten’s father, apparently, denies that his son’s death was a suicide. What is known, however, is that Lundsten was openly gay on his Facebook page. On a new Facebook memorial page in Lundsten’s honor, friends said that Lundsten had been bullied at school for his sexual orientation. Some students who knew Lundsten believed the bullying may have led to his suicide. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) offered his condolences to the family at an event on Monday.

"My heart goes out to Lance’s family, and friends and loved ones. It’s a tragic event, not only for them, but for the school, and the Alexandria community and really for all of us," Franken said. "LGBT kids really do need (more) protection," Franken said. "They’re two or three times more likely than straight kids to get bullied. Nine in ten LGBT students said they’ve been bullied or harassed and almost two-thirds say they don’t feel safe in school." Franken also renewed calls for Congress to pass the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SDNA), a bill which would outlaw discrimination against students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (transgender protections).

The other instance happened in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. 16-year-old high school student Tiffani Maxwell reportedly shot herself on Saturday morning, according to local station WPXI. Maxwell’s family believes that bullying may be to blame for her suicide. Maxwell was expelled from school last week after students told teachers that they witnessed Maxwell doing drugs. "She got text messages, saying ‘Tiffani you’re in rehab.’ ‘You’re on drugs,’" said Maxwell’s mother Sandy. Maxwell’s parents said their daughter wasn’t on drugs and they were just rumors. The parents are hoping to now save other teenagers from bullying. "Even if it saves one kid … just remember there are family members behind you and that tomorrow will be better," said Sandy Maxwell.

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