URBANA — On Friday, a small but dedicated number of Uni students will join thousands of their peers in taking part in the Day of Silence, sponsored nationally by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

Organized here by the Queer Straight Alliance, the event is aimed at spreading awareness of the bullying and harassment faced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students and their allies in schools across the country.

Students will participate by wearing a ribbon indicating their preference not to speak to their teachers and classmates. They will be expected to remain silent both in and out of class, though teachers hold the right to ask them to participate.

"It's meant to make the participants uncomfortable," explains faculty sponsor Billy Vaughn, "to make them realize how difficult it is for their LGBT peers to live unable to speak freely."

Junior Ethan Schiller agrees: "It's not about telling people to speak out for gay rights, but more like teaching yourself what it feels like to not be able to talk. … It's really for yourself."

Participants will have a silent lunch in the senior alcove on the first floor. Students not participating in the Day of Silence are welcome to attend the lunch as long as they remain respectful, junior Anna gooler said in a schoolwide e-mail.

Gooler also has ribbons (and safety pins) that she will distribute to anyone who would like to show their support for the event.

"If you are participating in the Day of Silence and would like a ribbon, simply point to the one I will be wearing and I will know what you mean," she wrote. "Those who aren't participating in the noncommunication but would still like a ribbon to show their support are also quite welcome to have a ribbon."

Uni is one of three area schools registered to participate in this year's Day of Silence, along with Urbana and Centennial. Uni's own QSA (originally the Gay-Straight Alliance, formed in 1999-2000) is the oldest in Champaign-Urbana, and one of the oldest in Champaign County.

The Day of Silence was first organized in 1996 by students at the University of Virginia studying nonviolent protest. By 2000, it had spread to hundreds of colleges and high schools across the country, and by 2002 it became part of the larger student-led movement toward safer schools in the country.

Students pass out "speaking cards," which read: "Please understand my reasons for not speaking today. I am participating in the Day of Silence, a national youth movement protesting the silence faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies. My deliberate silence echoes that silence, which is caused by harassment, prejudice, and discrimination. I believe that ending the silence is the first step toward fighting these injustices. Think about the voices you are not hearing today. What are you going to do to end the silence?”

Last year's Day of Silence was held in memory of Laurence King, a 15-year-old boy shot and killed by a classmate for his sexual orientation. Hundreds of thousands of students at more than 8,000 schools across the country contributed their silence, and this year is expected to be even bigger.

Well, bigger on the whole. This year, only about 15 Uni students are registered to participate, down from 35 in 2007 and almost 80 in 2006 (there was no school on the day of the 2008 Day of Silence.)

Vaughn attributes the drop to more dedicated participants.

"In years past, we've had lots of students participate just to avoid participating in class," he notes.

Sophomore Adam Joseph isn't worried about the overall drop in numbers, because slowly but surely the event is having the intended effect.

"It just seems like every year we do this, a few more people realize what it's about, and a few more people change the way they think or act because of it," he says. "It's not a reason to get out of class anymore; it's acknowledging a serious issue."

Though the number of participants is smaller than in recent years, the few participating expect to take a lot away from the Day of Silence, making it a successful endeavor.

"You learn a lot about yourself doing this, and it's different for everyone," says Schiller. "But it's important to be tolerant of other ideas, and the only way you can do that is to understand them."