<


Meet Kevin Epling
& Tammy Epling
Legislative Liaisons, Bully Police Michigan
Speakers and Consultants

The loss of their son Matthew in the summer of 2002, forty days after a hazing incident has charged Kevin and Tammy with making sure other children are safe from bullying, hazing and harassment in Michigan’s schools. Locally they have led the charge to establish a community based awareness program: Safe Schools, Safe Communities. They are currently working on state wide anti bullying legislation.  It will be named “Matt’s Safe School Law” in memory of their son. 
 >
The Eplings have been actively telling their story to numerous civic, educational and parent groups, have been featured on CNN, The Mitch Albom Show and several other local and regional news outlets. Kevin and Tammy have established an art competition for middle school students to explore the arts and assist in building self esteem. 
If you have opportunity for a speaker, anti bullying consultant, workshop presentors 
or would like to get more information about fees and services – 
The Eplings can be reached at tepling (at) gmail (dot) com or kepling (at) gmail (dot) com
>
Tammy & Kevin's TOP 10 Speaking Points
  1. Exposing Bullying and Hazing in our schools
  2. Building better community relations
  3. Law Enforcement's role in solving bullying problems
  4. Raising awareness through personal loss
  5. Ending the "Ostrich Principle"
  6. The Bullying/Suicide connection
  7. Develop action plans for your school/department
  8. Generating new ideas within the school/community
  9. Question/ Re-evaluate your own policies and procedures
  10. Becoming an Agent of Change
(Presentations are customized to meet the needs and interests of your group)

 
> Hazing – Another Form Of Bullying
Matt’s Story - “Rite of Passage"
Matthew Alexander Epling – 2/10/88 – 7/16/02

“Don't be fooled. Bullying doesn't have to be repeated, or take place 
over a period of time.  Each child is different. Even one traumatic instance 
can cripple a young mind into a well of despair.”
Matt's mom, Tammy Epling

Little did Matt know that lurking around the corner was a parked car, and three upperclassmen were waiting for them.  …The upperclassmen restrained Matt and his friend and said, "Welcome to high school”. Then they proceeded to pour syrup on them, and smash eggs on their heads. Matt fought back and stood up for himself and his friend...The main attacker told Matt, “Stop fighting.  This is how it is!”
>>
A Personal How-To Guide To Effecting Change
Hazing has a few different components than bullying, but at the core, they are both about “power and control”.  One person has power and control, one person does not.  Bullying, harassment, and hazing - they are all sick twisted cousins. It is sometimes hard to define when hazing is an assault and when repeated hazing became bullying. In order to make a wider base we wanted to incorporate all of the aspects of bullying, harassment and hazing together into a comprehensive anti-bullying plan. 
Tammy & Kevin Epling
To order our book,  click on the link below