`Bullies: Fighting Back` - The Evolution of Bullying | Video

Retha Colclasure | 2/7/2011

Bullying has been around for generations. But now, it doesn`t just happen on the playground or at school. Bullies can use the Internet and text messages to torment their victims after school hours and away from teachers. And sometimes, that kind of bullying can have devastating consequences.

The new age of bullying is causing more people to pay attention to the problem.

Bullying is a universal problem. It`s been going on for years. And it can affect anyone.

Headlines like, "Cyber Bullying Led to Teen`s Suicide," when a 13-year-old girl hanged herself after being bullied on Myspace; and this, "Bullying Causes Death at Rutger`s University," where a freshman at the school killed himself after being videotaped during an encounter with another man, have become more and more common over the past few years.

"This is a universal problem, and we want to attempt to find a way to solve a problem that people have said, `That`s just the way it`s been,` " said Robert Vallie, NDSU Student Government executive commissioner of government relations and intercollegiate affairs.

Bullying has evolved dramatically during the past few years. It`s not just who people bully, it`s also how it happens.

Vallie said: "You can hear the stories from individuals -- parents, grandparents -- maybe they`d hit each other in the arms or maybe someone would get thrown in a locker, or a bully would ask for your lunch money. That`s not the case anymore."

Now, bullying is more widespread and just as big a problem as ever.

"Bullying isn`t something that happens just on the playground anymore," said North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. "It can happen over the Internet, over the social networking sites, where everybody on earth can find somebody being bullied or engaged in bullying activities."

And the aftermath of that bullying can last forever.

"The problem is the people who are victims of bullying can carry lifelong consequences. It interferes with their learning environment in the school, and it simply is not a way that human beings ought to appropriately interact," said Stenehjem.

So he`s taking action. Stenehjem introduced anti-bullying legislation to the legislative session this year, and Vallie testified in support of it.

They say that could be the first step toward making a social change, where bullying just isn`t accepted as a fact of life anymore.

Bullying involves more than just the bully and the victim. It also involves everyone who is a bystander, and they can be a big part of the solution.

Throughout the rest of the week, Jody Kerzman and I will introduce you to people who have seen bullying from every angle, and what they think about it.

We also want to know what you, our viewers, think about what some call the bullying epidemic.

We`d like you to take a survey. You can find it on our website at kfyrtv.com or on our KFYR-TV Facebook fan page.

Tell us what you think about bullying, and if you know students in middle or high school, encourage them to take it, as well. All of the responses are anonymous.

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