CultureSeptember 6, 2026
upstanders
UP-stan-derz
Definition
Individuals who take positive action or intervene when they witness bullying, discrimination, or injustice, rather than remaining passive.
Etymology
The word is a 20th-century coinage, likely formed as an antonym to 'bystander' by combining 'up' (suggesting standing up or taking action) with the noun 'stander'.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe students who are encouraged to act as role models and address issues of bias when they observe them in their school community.
As schools open, we focus on inclusion, well-being, and academic rigor
Read the full article ↗The Concord Bridge