Dupage Policy Journal

Shannon Adcock, founder of Awake Illinois, expressed her concern over a video depicting a student pleading with school officials for safety following an incident in a locker room. She shared her thoughts on the matter in a post on X.

"I've been so upset by this video of a young girl—a minor—begging the adults in the room to do right by her," said Adcock. "I wish I could meet this girl and give her a hug. I'm disgusted by how many adults are failing kids. NO child should beg for safety."

Adcock's post included a video from Libs of TikTok featuring Celeste Diest, a student from Lucia Mar Unified School District. Diest said, "A biological male watching not only myself but other young women undress. This experience is beyond traumatizing. I must add, he is not changing in our locker rooms. He is in his track clothes already ready to go to practice at the beginning of the day. Therefore, there’s no reason for him to be in any locker room, let alone the women’s."

Screenshot of Shannon Adcock's April 19 post on X | X

According to reports, this incident is similar to one that occurred in Deerfield, Illinois, in March. Nicole Georgas recounted how her daughter left the locker room after school administrators allegedly tried to pressure her into changing in front of a biological male. The February incident at Shepard Middle School in Deerfield School District 109 involved female students who reported seeing a boy in the girls’ locker room while they were changing for gym class. The Lake County Gazette reported that several administrators, including Assistant Principal Cathy Van Treese and others, reprimanded the girls and attempted to compel them to change regardless.

Adcock is the founder and president of Awake Illinois, a nonprofit organization established in May 2021 advocating for parental rights, educational transparency, and civic engagement. A lifelong resident of Illinois and graduate of the University of Illinois in 2002, she resides in Naperville with her family. Her activism began with efforts to reopen public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and included running for the Indian Prairie School District 204 Board of Education in 2020 before withdrawing to focus on broader statewide advocacy.