“As the former editor-in-chief of my high school paper, The Norseman, I wanted to stray from the generic coverage school papers safely follow. The staff and my advisor at Downey High also thought on the same wavelength; as a result more people read the paper, instead of throwing it away.
School administrators didn’t like it much though. The principal met with my advisor after we printed an article about Halloween games. He gave an interview to the local paper saying he was disappointed in The Norseman because “There is always something controversial.” Around the same time, a student was suspended for wearing a condom costume on Halloween.
Later a boy was suspended because officials said he was making gang signs in a photo we published for a story on makeovers. But the final issue proved the most controversial.
I parodied a yearbook ad paid for by a fellow student’s parents. I chose that specific ad for its easy recognition with readers. I intended to copy the layout design and mock sentiments or parent/child separation anxiety. I had a photo of myself taken in a Unabomber-style sweater hood and dark glasses but with a twist—I also wore a graduation cap and gown. I attacked my own quirks, calling myself a Nosepicker; referring to visiting Walmart, and not-so-flattering nicknames of relatives—Ling-ling and Bong-bong, etc. The girl whose ad I parodied failed to see the humor. She believed it attacked her Jewish heritage. The student and her family complained to the prinicipal of Downey High, Allen Layne and several members of the Downey School Board the day the issue was released, June 14.
I attempted to explain to the principal that any truth to the accusations were purely coincidental. As a Filipino, I have been discriminated against. I would never intentionally do that to someone else. Despite my explanations the principal decided I needed punishment. I was sent home that day.
I felt nostalgia at leaving school, as well as anger over the way I was treated. It wasn’t right. The next two days my sister, two friends and I went to the library to find evidence contradicting all the accusations of anti-Semitism. For example, the “Nazi” font first found use in the 18th century, two centuries before Nazism and World War II began.
Then on Monday with some information on student press rights I learned at an LA Youth-sponsored students’ rights conference, I contacted the Virginia-based Student Press Law Center, the only legal assistance agency that deals exclusively with protecting and aiding student journalists. I spoke to attorney Mike Hiestand, who confirmed that an injustice was indeed done and that my actions were lawful.
Armed with a letter from Mr. Hiestand citing specific California Education Codes protecting my rights, I went to a meeting with Principal Layne on Tuesday June 16. He dismissed the research I had done and told me my punishment: I would not be able to participate the next day in the graduation ceremonies or the Grad Night festivities afterwords.
Time was not on my side. Right after the meeting I called Mike Hiestand, who referred me to attorney Dennis Hernandez. Despite his best efforts he could not negotiate any bargain with the administration or school board. Mr. Hernandez then contacted the American Civil Liberties Union. ACLU lawyer Silvia Argueta joined the case but the Board rebuffed her also. Ms. Argueta said she felt the only way for me to walk with my class at graduation was to file a temporary restraining order against Principal Layne’s decision at the Norwalk Superior court.
On Tuesday, between phone calls to Mr. Hiestand, Mr. Hernandez and Ms. Argueta, the Long Beach Press-Telegram interviewed me. I hope the article, printed the next day would add more burn to my side of the fire, little did I know that channel 7 news would be calling and channel 9 and channel 11…
At the courthouse, news crews lined up to tape me and my “entourage” walk from elevator to the court room. I was questioned by deadline-anxious reporters and felt my own anxiety as I saw the countdown to graduation rapidly decline. Finally a settlement was reached in which I agreed not to pursue further litigation against the school board. In exchange I could participate in graduation and Grad Nite.
The whole experience taught me a lot. Forums of expression for young voices are limited as it is. Teenagers that deliver reality via their school paper speak to their peers, their equals, and they should not be silenced.
The student press is too often a victim of “protection”; Big Brother officials censoring all in the name of protecting students. Students are being protected from things that are more explicit in television commercials, more detailed in playground talk, and more relevant in teenagers’ lives than people wish to believe. Teenagers need less protection from themselves and more from those attempting to mold what they think.
Despite age, certain laws recognize our rights from the suppression of opinions—acceptable or not. Teenagers are not at a disadvantage, they too have rights, inherent rights in this country. No one can make us victims unless we let them. Knowledge is key; knowing our rights empowers us.”
