It was just over a month ago when entranced in one of my routine after school doom-scrolling sessions, I paused: a particular Instagram post had grabbed my attention. It was decorated in the all too familiar bright orange and blue of our rival, yet captioned “Warriors believe protest”. This piqued my interest, and upon a further look into the account, it was evident that Westlake High School students were frustrated by what continues to grow as a serious problem across the country: sexual assault.

For reference, according to recent figures by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sexual violence and harassment in schools continues to rise. 11% of high school students in 2021 reported having experienced some form of coercion into sexual acts or flat-out assault. This problem continues to traumatize and wound adolescent girls and LGBTQ youth, as well as adolescent boys in many cases. It worsens the current mental health crisis and fosters the growth of the rising tide of misogyny that has been seen on social media. 

Westlake High School is an unfortunate example of this statistic materializing and inflicting harm on members of our local community. Through social media and the spread of awareness at school, students were able to coordinate a walkout on May 2nd during their fourth period classes. Speakers shared their experiences and reflected on the importance of protecting our young girls, and local parents joined them in protest on the side of Thousand Oaks Boulevard. Students shared their frustrations and thirst for change, holding signs reading “I should be scared of tests, not of being assaulted”, and “Tardies and bathroom passes taken more seriously than sexual assault?”

The cause for this uproar was the coming out of multiple girls at Westlake High School to share their stories of sexual assault by students on campus. Three formal complaints have already been issued just in the 2024-2025 school year, two of which claimed to be assaulted by the same senior boy. One claimed her assault took place on campus in the teacher’s lounge when she was just a sophomore.

Another major component of this push for change at Westlake is the culture of misogyny and negativity surrounding women that many students at Westlake claim is prevalent. Numerous students have shared how they consistently hear boys at the school sharing their high sexual expectations for the girls that they go out with, and joking about rape. This kind of culture on campus may only exacerbate the problem by encouraging even more developing men to form negative views of women and commit physical and sexual violence against them.

Both students and parents of the Westlake community have shared frustrations over what they believe is an inadequate response from both the school and the district. Westlake High School has acknowledged the right of students to assemble, but have not yet made any far-reaching changes to school policy. The two victims of harassment by the current senior have expressed their desire for him to be removed from the school or further punished, which have not occurred.

At the level of the district, the Conejo Valley Unified School District Board has taken comments regarding the incident at recent meetings, yet have not made any substantial policy changes yet. They are set to vote on a resolution that will commit them further to providing students with a “safe, respectful, and non-discriminatory educational experience”, which is to be reevaluated in December. Some members of the community are still disappointed with this resolution as it does not properly lay out a foundation for both encouraging changes in school culture and education about sexual assault, or addressing cases already brought to them. 

Despite the slow traction the movement seems to be gaining in regards to making changes at the administrative level, it is undeniable the impact the walkout has made. Hundreds of Westlake students have participated in the movement, and a student-run Instagram account named, “standupagainstsa_” provides frequent updates on the issue. 

What pleasantly surprised me the most was the amount of Agoura students I could name following the account and supporting the movement. At 741 followers, members of all surrounding communities are following the issue and voicing their support.

Westlake High School can serve as a powerful reminder to us of our power as students. The Westlake community has succeeded at holding the attention of all, including local news outlets and the Conejo Valley Unified School District administration. This was not just a protest but a lesson in advocating for change, even when you feel like you have no control. Westlake sets a strong precedent for what one of the first steps of chasing justice is: courage.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault or harassment, do not be afraid to speak up. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is at 1-800-656-HOPE(4673), and takes anonymous calls. Remember you are not alone and you have a voice.

For more information about the movement, be sure to check out the Instagram account: 

@standupagainstsa_

References

Benner, Jennifer, and Jennifer Grove. “New Data from CDC Shows Increased Violence and Trauma for Teens, and How Schools Can Be a Lifeline.” National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 1 Mar. 2023, www.nsvrc.org/blogs/new-data-cdc-shows-increased-violence-and-trauma-teens-and-how-schools-can-be-lifeline.

Biasotti, Tony. “Hundreds of Westlake High Students Walk Out, Say School Has Culture of Sexual Abuse.” Ventura County Star, 3 May 2025, www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2025/05/03/westlake-high-students-say-thousand-oaks-school-has-culture-of-sexual-abuse/83368668007/. Accessed 5 June 2025.

Chow, Vivian. “Westlake High Students, Parents Allege Mishandling of Sexual Assault, Harassment Cases by School Officials.” KTLA, 17 Apr. 2025, ktla.com/news/local-news/westlake-high-students-parents-speak-out-over-alleged-mishandling-of-sexual-assault-harassment/.