By BETH HERSKOVITS ADVANCE STAFF WRITER

High school student-leaders focus on resolving conflicts during conference

When Edward Pepitone walked on stage to give a presentation on bullying, girls in the back row snickered at his taped glasses, which extended in large ovals over his cheeks.

The students sitting around the girls exchanged surprised glances as the 17-year-old was booed off the podium, but no one jumped to his defense.

The scenario had been staged -- as students quickly realized -- but Edward pointed out an important lesson. "Many of the people in the audience either supported the oppressor by laughing or turning away because they thought, 'The bully's not bothering me,'" said the Susan E. Wagner High School junior, during a presentation of "Bullying: The Individual, The School, The Community and The Holocaust."

The skit was part of a conference yesterday that allowed high school leaders from Brooklyn and Staten Island high schools (B.A.S.I.S.) lead and participate in 10 workshops on conflict resolution.

The event, which draws more than 300 students annually, was held at the College of Staten Island.

In CSI's Green Dolphin room, students from Wagner and Staten Island Technical high schools shared experiences about being the victim of cruelty and prejudice as well as being the bystander.

"If you stand up, your reputation will get ruined and people will think you're a nerd, too," said audience member Bintu Yilla, 16, of St. George. "This is high school.

"George Anthony, a conflict resolution specialist at Wagner High School, stressed the importance of community and offered suggestions for building one.

"An assault on one child is really an assault on the school. Much of their experience of what their school gives them will pave the way for the rest of their lives. When it comes to bullying, there are absolutely no innocent bystanders," Anthony said. "If you can't be the one who wants to stand up and expose yourself, go to someone who does.

"Richie DeGregorio, 16, of Great Kills, said that his involvement with Wagner's mediation program has been invaluable, especially because of the friends he made. 

"I can relate to [the workshop] because I've been picked on my whole life," he said. "I'm so happy to be a part of it.