Friday, Nov. 14, 2008

Students Protest Election in Black

By Lauren Sciarappa

Contributing Writer

In response to the historic election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, several unofficial protests were reported last week, most notably in schools that included Colleyville and Cross Timbers middle schools, as well as Grapevine and Northwest high schools.

Some of the protests had racial undertones; others, such as those in the middle schools, were more overt.

Following the election, students received multiple text messages on their mobile phones to dress in black as if they were in mourning, according to a parent of a Colleyville Middle School girl who received the message. The mother, who asked that her name be withheld, said her daughter did not participate.

The message also went out on the popular social Web site, Facebook, said Grapevine High School senior Scott Scheel, who did wear black on Wednesday.

There were also reports of several fights and students using derogatory language, including racial slurs.

Grapevine High School senior Carly Rosse, who wore black to school on Wednesday, said that students were "mourning the death of capitalism."

"It wasn’t racially motivated," Rosse said. "It was based on the fact that we didn’t agree with his policies. We didn’t like the outcome of the election and we were silently protesting."

Alysha Behn, also a senior at Grapevine High School, who called the behavior "silly," said it is just something that comes with living in a "red state," one with an overwhelming Republican majority.

"I wasn’t offend by it; it’s their right to be upset," said Behn.

Observers of the protest on Wednesday shared similar feelings; even those who supported the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama.

"We [Democrats] won. They can wear black all they want, but it doesn’t bother me," GHS senior April Rushin said.

Other Democratic students like senior Emily Smith said she probably would have been equally upset if Sen. John McCain had won the election, but for different reasons.

Although students across the district wore black in what was clearly perceived as a staged event, a statement from the Grapevine-Colleyville school district said no formal demonstration took place. It went on to say that it could confirm there had been a few instances of comments being made among students at several schools that were "inappropriate" in response to the election.

"This behavior is not tolerated in GCISD at any time; it goes against the character education values we teach and the culture of our district," said district Public Information Officer Megan Overman in an e-mail.

"Any students engaging in such behavior have been dealt with appropriately at the campus level, and teachers are using the events surrounding the election as learning opportunities to help students gain context and understanding of current events," Overman said.

Numerous students were given in-school suspension for their actions.

"It’s a shame that we still behave the way we do ...," said a mother with children at Cross Timbers Middle School, who also asked that her name not be used.

"Heaven is going to be made up of all colors and all backgrounds. What is God saying and feeling as He sees our reactions?

"This starts at home," she added.

Lauren Sciarappa is the news editor of the GHS student newspaper, The Manestream. Lauren is also working this fall as an intern for the Courier.