From a distance, the "Wall of Intolerance" in Glenelg High School's auditorium looks like any other colorful poster decorating the walls of the school.

But after a closer look, the significance of the wall -- on which students were asked to write about a time they felt discriminated against -- and its message become apparent.

"This wall examined the injustices, prejudice and disrespect we have all experienced," senior Ben Jubar said of the wall at the school's second-annual International Day March 31.

The entire point of building the wall -- which consisted of a large sheet of black paper covered in index cards bearing students' experiences -- revolved around the symbolic act of tearing it down.

Posted on the wall were dozens of multi-colored note cards bearing students' feelings regarding racial, cultural and social conflicts they had experienced or witnessed.

"A kid was being excluded because he was a 'nerd' and smarter than everyone else," one student wrote.

"My eyes are open! Stop discriminating against Asians," another wrote.

"I have been the 'bullier' and the one getting bullied, and looking back, neither one is something I would ever want to go back to," one note card stated.

"Some kids threw eggs at our garage soon after we moved in after finding out our race," another card read.

At a school assembly March 31, students honored diversity through performances, then ripped the "Wall of Intolerance" to shreds.

"It's really symbolic," junior Michelle Kim, who helped organize the event, said of tearing down the wall.

The event was organized by Glenelg's D.R.E.A.M. Team (Diversity Reaching Everyone Across Minds), a club designed to promote understanding and discourage intolerance.

Counselor Moira O'Malley developed the idea for the club early this school year, based on her observations of students' interactions, she said.

"We saw a need to improve how students treat each other," O'Malley said. "They're not cautious about the things that come out of their mouth."

The mission of the club resonated with many students.

"Apparently, some kids really opened up. Some of it became really emotional," said Elisabeth McClure, a junior and club member.

The club currently has roughly 50 members. They seek to recruit more students and organize activities like Mix-It-Up Day, during which students were encouraged to sit with someone new during lunch.

"A lot of them are more accepting than we thought," club member Michelle Nussbaum, a junior, said of her classmates, reflecting upon the success of the club's initiatives.

This year's International Day was organized by the D.R.E.A.M. Team, along with students Michelle Kim and Sarah Shin. The event included performances reflecting various cultures-- including Korean, Irish, Russian and Indian dances-- and the recitation of poems from black and American Indian cultures.

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