A vote to recall and reprint
Above: Track standout Jordan Smith, 18. holds her yearbook from Charter Oak High School on Monday. Smith and fellow members of the Black Student Union were targeted and names other than their own appeared in the yearbook. Smith said they are "ghetto names."
COVINA - High school yearbooks celebrate achievement, mark the passing of a year, and in photos, captions and scribbled signatures, capture a time.
But for the nine students of Charter Oak High School's Black Student Union, this year's book might better be left on the shelf.
A yearbook staff student replaced each of their names with fake names - such as "Tay Tay Shaniqua," "Crisphy Nanos" and "Laquan White" - next to the club photo in the school's 2008 Chronicle, according to Superintendent Clint Harwick.
"Someone was just trying to be funny but it's not funny," said Jordan Smith, a BSU member. "It's upsetting. It's a mistake that should not of been overlooked."
School Board President Joseph M. Probst said Wednesday that "appropriate actions will be taken."
Probst said he did not know the gender or race of the student who changed the names, but he did know the student will be a senior next year.
"We are discussing the intent and impact of the student's actions," Harwick said Wednesday. "The first step was to remedy the issue."
The students whose names were changed were given stickers with the correct names to be placed over the error in their books.
"What else can you do?" asked Probst. "It would be nice to snap a magic finger, but I think it was incredibly well done."
Smith, a senior, said she wants the yearbooks recalled and reprinted.
Some BSU students and their parents are dismayed by the way the school handled the incident and expect a formal apology from the school.
"I am sure the students will be spoken to and given an apology if they haven't been already," said Probst, who called the incident "atrocious."
BSU student Evanne Jackson, a junior, said she was given a handful of stickers and told to pass them out to her friends on the last day of school.
"How humiliating," said Evanne's mother, Toi. "The school is responsible, and they ask the victim to pass out the stickers."
School officials said that because the error was discovered after the yearbooks were handed out, there was limited ways to correct the problem.
"We remedied the issue by putting in the correct information," said Harwick. "In this case, we used a common practice with the stickers."
Harwick said there were a number of human and printing errors throughout the yearbook, including misspellings and blank pages.
But BSU students like Paisley Moore, said the corrective sticker is not enough.
"I kind of laughed at it," said Moore. "Show that you are sincerely apologetic. I don't think they realize what happened here."
Repeated calls to the yearbook staff office went unanswered Tuesday. Calls to yearbook advisor Bonnie Shockey were not immediately returned.
School officials are not aware of any previous similar incidents.
Past editions of the yearbook have received awards from the University of Columbia Scholastic Press with gold and silver medals in 2006 and 2007, respectively, according to school staff.
Of the 2,000 students who attend Charter Oak High School about 45 percent are Latino; 30 percent white and 4.5 percent black, according to school officials.
"We have a wonderful diversity on our campus which makes a richer educational experience," said Harwick.
But Moore said she is not surprised something like this happened.
"People of color, Latinos and African Americans, are viewed at the school as a joke," she said.
The affected picture appears in the back of the book and shares a page with other group photos including Class Councils, North American Unity and Asian Unity.
"This has hit us pretty hard," said Principal Kathleen Wiard. "We take great pride in producing a great yearbook with positive, good memories."
The BSU students' families, however, aren't so sure this yearbook is something they'll want to remember.
"A yearbook is very significant and something you always hold on to," said Toi. "When she shows it to her kids she will have to explain why she has the name Crisphy."
amanda.baumfeld@sgvn.com
Comments
la,
That makes sense, but you know people on this blog would tear into those families for leaving and that would be a story as it was at Amat. Parents being told they're teaching their kids to be quitters, crybabies, etc. Its a no win situation. These families did what was best for them, period. Reality is this would not be a story if the names had not been changed. The pesron/people responsible for that should be put on blast on this blog and in the paper. They should not be protected.
Posted by: Race Wars | June 30, 2008 9:46 AM
What does this have to do with sports. If my kids who are both athletes were there we would be out. Then that would be the next story as to why athletes are leaving CO. Why contribute to a school who slaps you in the face. It is called options and I would option out.
Posted by: la | June 29, 2008 9:25 PM
Double Standard
You've already got CBS,NBC,ABC and the NRA.
Quite being a racist as_
Posted by: A FAN | June 29, 2008 6:02 PM
EXACTLY. what does this have to do with sports . get charter oak hated more then it already is.... AN for all you people trying to make us feel sorry for you it aint gonna happen.. this is isnt a RACIAL thing.. if it happen to white people this would be a simple joke
ANYONE AGREE??
Posted by: SPORTS | June 29, 2008 4:54 PM
Hey fool!, atleast post a real name and maybe you would get a real response. Im employing my freedom of speech.
Posted by: patrick | June 29, 2008 11:23 AM
Cathy Wiard must go
Posted by: Lifeforce | June 29, 2008 9:50 AM
patrick
you are typical of the over sensitive minority who gets pissed at just the smallest slight. life is hard. Get over it and move on. Ya gotta learn to pick your battles and this ones not worth it
Posted by: pick your battles | June 28, 2008 10:05 PM
That was the lamest excuse I have ever heard. You should be ashamed of yourself for even trying to come up with some stupid excuse. Filler names?? REally??? It could have Ms. Track star of something other than the intenional racail verbiage used. You are pathetic as well as your controls on the yearbook. Charter Oak is patheitc if they don't do something about it, nothing short than re printing. Take away all of the school athletic titles until this is resolved to satisfaction. And all of you bloggers who are amking racist statements - Go to hell.
Thank You, i agree whole heartedly.
Posted by: patrick | June 28, 2008 6:48 PM
Nobody is stopping white folk from having a white tv station. Its the content that counts. The content in BET is overwhelmingly geared to people of color who have something to relate to vs. having to face the European standard of beauty and socialization. Its no wonder why there are many latinos who fond of BET also, being that the music, the appeal to young ,urban people in general.The only thing people get in society is that we dont talk proper enough, our hair is not white enough, and that our skin color is not light enough to fit the standard bearer of european culture.
To me thats a good enough reason to be able to have a network to connect and feel like you can be yourself with changing who you are to fit in .
Posted by: patrick | June 28, 2008 6:44 PM
why is it ok to have a black entertainment channel and the NAACP but if white people start something like that we are considered racist. its a double standard
Posted by: double standard | June 28, 2008 3:01 PM
COHS Yearbook Staffer,
That was the lamest excuse I have ever heard. You should be ashamed of yourself for even trying to come up with some stupid excuse. Filler names?? REally??? It could have Ms. Track star of something other than the intenional racail verbiage used. You are pathetic as well as your controls on the yearbook. Charter Oak is patheitc if they don't do something about it, nothing short than re printing. Take away all of the school athletic titles until this is resolved to satisfaction. And all of you bloggers who are amking racist statements - Go to hell.
Posted by: Enough of the fabrication | June 28, 2008 1:10 PM
patrick SHUT UP AND GET OVER IT
Posted by: SHUT UP | June 28, 2008 12:35 PM
personally i think the party guilty should have to give a public apology to the whole student body. Other than that, what concerns me is that when incidents like these happen, you got morons that think the situation is fixed by telling minorities to shut up and "Get over it"..Ill be damned if i shut up and get over any damn thing that affects me or my community. Im "American" and i pay every damn tax there is to pay, so i would be upset if i was humiliated or discriminated against on any level.
Posted by: patrick | June 28, 2008 10:39 AM
Fred, don't let that fool bother you. They get to hide behind anonymous names and throw out childish insults. This guy obviously thinks he's smart and has a high IQ, but what good is that if you don't have class?
Posted by: No class | June 27, 2008 12:29 PM
Sorry:
Jordan and all the BSU who I feel bad for!
Posted by: Vote For Change | June 27, 2008 12:25 PM
This is a newspaper and a Sports Prep blog that can report facts and news stories. Robin is an athlete so I guess its fine bringing out an issue that involved one of the SGV schools. Okay, somone made some terrible mistakes...
I guess we should keep it quite, brush it under the table and move on?
This is just a very sad story in our world today.
I am sure the school will make serious changes now, but what do you really do for the families that have been hurt. Something need to change folks because we can't keep downing down this path.
Posted by: Vote for Change | June 27, 2008 12:22 PM
Just the facts, you feel better now? Those were pretty good insults, nice work. But I still don't know what the heck you're talking about. Throw out blame without knowing the facts? You'd have to explain that, all I did was put this story, which I didn't write, on the blog. I posted it because I thought it was an important story that happened to include a couple Charter Oak track stars. I also had an opinion on the subject that I wanted to share. This is a blog, so there is more freedom to be opinionated, which is different than writing a sports story for publication. After reading the story, I think the kids deserve a reprinted yearbook? Is that something that offends you? Is that irresponsible of me to say that and have that opinion? And did you notice how I disagreed without insulting you. This is what grown-ups and mature people do.
Posted by: FredJ | June 27, 2008 12:02 PM
CO has very few problems with racial incidents. The staff is not prejudice, non-caucasian students are very successful at our school in all areas:student government, sports, the arts and all parts of school activities. The person writing the blog, must not go to this school. It is not perfect, but certainly is one of the good schools in the SGV.
Posted by: Proud CO student | June 27, 2008 11:28 AM
Fred
Right its a blog - A PREP SPORTS BLOG!!!!!
Why don't you look that up
To bad you use it as your personal sounding board - nice work - almost as good as your in-depth analysis of the all star football games on the same weekend - throw out blame without really knowing the facts - oops..... I forgot you are not interested in facts just the usual Fred BS
Keep up the good work buddy!!!
I wonder if someday your IQ will be as high a number as your age?
No- not possible - you are getting older and dumber by the second!
Posted by: Just the Facts | June 27, 2008 11:07 AM
This is an issue that has to be addressed within the whole school not just the 1 or 2 to kids involved. This school has a bad rep for having alot of prejudice staff members on board. So it doesnt suprise our community that this was not taken care of befor it hit the press. If your not caucasian in that school then your a nobody. It's about time that this all came out now everybody will really know what CHARTER OAK is about!!!
Posted by: they need to look further into this | June 27, 2008 10:38 AM
The simple fact of the matter still remains that journalism is defined as “writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation.” (Look it up if you are unsure) -- from just the facts...
Thanks, this is a blog, why don't you look up the definition of that.
Posted by: FredJ | June 27, 2008 10:27 AM
This is ridiculous to go on and on about this very unfortunate incident. It was a mean thing to do. It probably did have racial motivation, but if you look at the picture of the yearbook staff the majority of students are latino or asian (judging by the sur-names.
The person who blogged and said he was stared at in markets because of being a latino is ridiculous. Look around , latinos are in the majority and why would anyone stare in the first place, it is not a new phenomenon in the area.
Posted by: Joyce Williams | June 27, 2008 9:15 AM
SR
As a matter of fact yes – and I figured you would pull that card.
Ever since Woodward and Bernstein in 1972, every swing dork who claims to work in journalism sees it as their divine duty to do “investigative reporting.” The simple fact of the matter still remains that journalism is defined as “writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation.” (Look it up if you are unsure)
Neither you, nor your equally useless pal FR, seem to be able to comprehend that. You two see it as your “duty” as you put it to ..........“The idea is that if enough pressure is put in the right place, the wrong can be corrected and those at fault can be prosecuted.” Well jack – why is it your crusade to put pressure in the right place? You two are sports journalists, well actually you are not, but that is what you are employed to do. Except you can’t seem to stay on task – perhaps a little ADD is in the mix I gather.
Prosecuted??? Was there a crime committed here? No. Regardless – prosecution is handled by the justice system not the news media – or perhaps you weren’t taught that in journalism school.
Back to the basics the issue – on the SGV Tribune – Preps page it states “
Blog: Fred Robledo Talks Prep Sports
Problem is this isn’t prep sports.
As before ........... Just the facts please (Prep Sports Facts) - not your political agendas
Posted by: Just the Facts | June 27, 2008 8:07 AM
Well im glad my name is WOWZER. hahaha.
In an election year where the one man running has a name 1 in 3 million men have and the other has a name that 1 in 8 men have.
Where one man is 65% older than his opponent. And has 370% the experience in the US Congress.
and the biggest thing of all; where one man is Black and the other man White.
America has only elected 1 Catholic as president, and 20% of America IS Catholic. American has only elected 2 Men from california when california holds 20% of how many electoral votes you need to win the election. America has never elected a Hispanic,Jew,Mormon,Native American, Man over 60 in his first term,Woman (who make of 51% of America)
What makes you think RACE isnt a big issue Fredo. Come On. The issue is only RACE. Sorry if i come off to statistical but im not lying or making numbers up. NUMBERS dont lie.
a couple more for you
Women= 51% of America only 8% of US Congress
Lawyers= 6% of America , 71% of Congress
M.D's= 2% of America
24% of Congress
White Evangelical Males= 21% of America
85% of US Congress
I thought we lived in a democratic republic where we vote for people that represent US. US is not 2% or 6% , US is US, Blue Collar Middle America.
Dont Vote, Spend November 2nd getting together and talking about how to make america better for americans. Not for Lawyers and Doctors, Not For the "Minorities" (and don't make that racial) But I want a political party made by Americans for Americans and doesn't have an agenda except for "I'm going to do what is best for America"
Talk to people, think of ideas send ,tell them to your friends, discuss them. That is what a democracy is all about. Don't vote democrat or republican they are a bunch of Top 1% in Wealth, Power, and Ignorance; to the other 99%
Don't Vote Green or Libertarian they have agendas too, they just dont have the money the big ones have.
VOTE AMERICAN.
and Fredo, American Government is a Minority
Posted by: wowzer! | June 27, 2008 1:19 AM
John Aguilar,
NOBODY is winning in this situation. The entire SGV (Black, Brown, Yellow, White, etc) is losing in this situation.
Yearbook staff,
I suppose from now on the purported "filler" names should be generics (Mr. Smith)and not negative stereotypes.
Posted by: New York | June 26, 2008 10:28 PM
Posted by: COHS Yearbook Staffer | June 26, 2008 6:50 PM...
Nice story, so tell us... Who fell asleep at the wheel and allowed this?
If the fillers were "X", "Y", "Z" etc the story you told might be plausible but with the names listed it was straight up a racial joke that hurts...
No justification and no credibility,,, Sorry...
Joe Colt
Posted by: Joe Colt | June 26, 2008 7:01 PM
Hi. I was and currently am part of the staff at the high school. first and foremost, I would like to apologize to anyone who this may have offended. Regardless of the situation, the names were rude and should not have been placed in the spread. What not everyone knows though is that it was not intentionally done. In no way, fashion, or method were these names meant to be printed. The news stations call it a "prank" or "racial hatred". None of these suggestions are true. This is what happened. First of all, there are many mistakes in the book due to bad management of time. With the pressure of deadlines, and fines from the printing plant, the person in charge of the section placed fake names in place of real ones, called "filler text". After sending the pages to the plant, they are sent back to the class so that the final corrections can be made. When they were returned, the student in charge of making the corrections was told by the yearbook adviser that there was nothing else to be done and that all of the "filler text" had been corrected. Being told that their was nothing else he could help with, the student trusted that the pages were correct. Somehow though, the pages were printed with the discriminating names. We had problems with the plant not printing the updated versions of pages, but it is unsure whether this was a mistake of the plant printing the old pages, or a mistake on the part of the staff and adviser of not correcting the names. I am not saying that it was the correct thing to do; putting the names in. Granted, they are offensive. What I am trying to convey is that is was a mistake, and not, in any way, a way to poke fun at a certain group. I hope that everyone can understand the situation a little bit better. Thank you.
Posted by: COHS Yearbook Staffer | June 26, 2008 6:50 PM
I don't think this is fair. that is rediculous how the "white man" wins again. And they have to pass out their own stickers about a yearbook that the school let be released. That just sucks, to the students that this happened to, may you take it all the way. As it is Charter Oak has a bad reputation, and that just made it more of a discriminative school.
Posted by: John Aguilar | June 26, 2008 6:50 PM
how many polocks does it take to change a light blub? four. three of them to read the directions and one to do it. baaa haaa
Posted by: baaa haaa | June 26, 2008 6:48 PM
I havent posted in awhile but this thread needed a response...
First of all I am caucasian and as a white guy who has friends of all backgrounds the BS that happened over at CO is sickening...
Second, I know that we all like to tell jokes... I make them all the time usually pointing them at myself and my Polish background but this is about young kids and not a bunch of guys sitting in a bar that know and understand each other...
Third the guys that post on here and try to stir the pot so to speak are full on idiots, you dont like people of of other ethnicities then "Tough Guys" go tell them to their faces...
Fourth and referring back to my third comment... I would have alot more respect for the racists on here if they manned up and just said so in public, I wouldnt agree with them but at least they would have my respect as people who would speak face to face with the people they have issues with... Doubt thats going to happen and I hope I dont know any of you personally because I sure as the day is long wouldnt want to be associated with you...
Fifth, with maturity comes understanding and common sense of true brotherhood among all races, its really not a bad thing to be diverse and get along with everyone that you like as a human being...
Sixth, Charter Oak should step up and fix this, sorry but the person in charge dropped the ball and obviously didnt proof read the yearbook which is unexcusable... Its like what, a couple of hundred pages? Thats unexcusable and of course its hindsight but its also negligent...
Seventh... Just want to say I love you all no matter what your background is, thats my opinion and I am sticking to it...
Joe Colt
Posted by: Joe Colt | June 26, 2008 6:41 PM
yeah what happened to our first ammendent rights? shame on you fred for pulling our comments
Posted by: shame on you fred | June 26, 2008 5:45 PM
wtf is this bull sh it removing our posts? as shole
Posted by: ass hole | June 26, 2008 5:38 PM
Fred, these last 2 comments along with the story itself are why black students and athletes here in the SGV continue to have so many problems. Look at the reaction you got for just running the story. A sad commentary on our society in the 21st century.
Posted by: LUVTHISGAME | June 26, 2008 5:30 PM
this is sad, it's already on local news stations, check out ABC 7
Posted by: amat fan | June 26, 2008 4:26 PM
sounds like the yearbook advisor wasnt doing their job
Posted by: SD John | June 26, 2008 3:07 PM
That's right. Don't blame the admin. There are HUNDREDS of pages in a yearbook and it's easy for something like that to get by. The school just needs to do the right thing and recall and reprint.
Posted by: noblame | June 26, 2008 2:39 PM
C'mon, none of the administrators "allowed" this to happen. It happened, so now it's about what they do to rectify it.
Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 2:06 PM
Hey lots of you wanted something other than Amat to blog about. Spotlight on CO but not for athletics. Ouch this hurts!
Posted by: Shi- Happens | June 26, 2008 2:02 PM
They should cancel all of CO'S athletic programs for a year. Wonder what Tiffany Sr. thinks of all this.? C.O. and Principal Wiard what a disgrace to Latino and African Americans you allowed to happen. It starts at the top, Fix it!
Posted by: CO CHARGERS OR CO CHARGES? | June 26, 2008 1:57 PM
Stick to the Facts: Have you ever heard of Woodstein?
Good point: You are right about Ms. Sweger. She was the best. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her.
Posted by: Steve Ramirez | June 26, 2008 1:25 PM
Dear Jordan
My apologizes to you and the rest of the Smith family. Its a shame that in this day and age we still have people (Idiots) walking around with there heads up their butts. I think its a shame that some people still judge a person by the color of their skin and not by their character or contents of their heart.
Knowing you and your family these past years. I know that you will rise above this stupid inconsiderate act. You've always been a winner
Posted by: J. Bowden | June 26, 2008 1:20 PM
this is one of the many reason i just read and try not to blog. As long as we just shut up and play sports and be good little boys and girl its cool. When there is only 4.5% blacks in the school and probaly half play sports then this is a issue. Every minorty has a student union and why not? if it helps the moral of the campus and give you a since of pride. i just hope everyone understand its always deeper then sports when its come to teenage kids.
Posted by: ex_falcon | June 26, 2008 1:12 PM
RACISM IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE SGV. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SMALLER ISSUES AND INCIDENTS ARE IGNORED. THEY CONTINUE AND GROW INTO LARGER ONES LIKE THIS.
Posted by: Race Wars | June 26, 2008 1:04 PM
tommy get a freaking sense of humor and pull that stick out of your butt
Posted by: stick out of your butt | June 26, 2008 12:25 PM
Fred,
This whole thing is DISGUSTING!
AS USUAL THE BLOGGERS HAVE SUNK TO A NEW LOW...AND I THOUGHT LETTING THE "MAYATE" COMMENT GO BY WAS AN ALL TIME LOW....FRED THIS IS DISGUSTING!!!!!
AND THE WORST PART WILL BE ALL THE CLOSET RACISTS THAT WILL COME ON AND EXPOSE THEIR TRUEST BELIEFS
WHAT A MESS!!!!
SURPRISE ME AND TELL ME THE YEARBOOK STUDENT WAS BLACK? THEN IT WAS A JOKE RIGHT???
BOYCOTT...I WILL.
Posted by: TOMMY SMITH | June 26, 2008 12:23 PM
ROFL
I think all this uproar may lead to the stunting of our youth's future comic growth. Real comedy comes from pushing the envelope occasionally.
Get over it. This was some real funny shiite.
George Carlin: R.I.P.
Posted by: Welcome to the real world | June 26, 2008 12:22 PM
Stick to the facts
Blogs based solely on facts?
From which planet do you hail?
Posted by: Conq76 | June 26, 2008 12:15 PM
I just hope no one finds out Gano was behind this....
Lame attempt at humor, no students were harmed in the making of this post, post no bills, consult a physician before starting a new exercise program, keep out of the reach of children....
Posted by: Conq76 | June 26, 2008 12:13 PM
The kids in that picture should get compensated to the fullest $$$$. If I am one of these kids parents I am seeing my Lawyer right now. This should not go on at any school. We have worked too hard to try to mend racial differances and altho some still exist, this a real setback. Charter Oak H.S., shame on you administrators in charge for allowing this to happen.
Posted by: Scarlet Letter for CO. | June 26, 2008 12:02 PM
HEY Steve R -- I remember that well and may GLENDA SWEGER REST IN PEACE.. She passed away a year ago after a tough battle with cancer. Great lady.
Posted by: good point Steve ramirez | June 26, 2008 11:57 AM
HEY Steve R -- I remember that well and may GLENDA SWEGER REST IN PEACE.. She passed away a year ago after a tough battle with cancer. Great lady.
Posted by: good point Steve ramirez | June 26, 2008 11:55 AM
SR
The duties of a newspaper are to report facts not as you put it..... "to oversee what is happening in the community.......
we do not need journalistic oversight - we have plenty of that with the government.
Just the facts please - not your political agendas
Posted by: Stick to the facts | June 26, 2008 11:52 AM
HA that's funny
Looks like this "Tired" chap got under Fred's skin "just a wee bit" early on and Fred was left firing blanks
Posted by: Ha | June 26, 2008 11:50 AM
One of the duties of a newspaper is to oversee what is happening in the community and report wrongs. The idea is that if enough pressure is put in the right place, the wrong can be corrected and those at fault can be prosecuted.
A similar incident happened while I was in high school, although it was race related. Our school newspaper was printed by the school's print class. But once, a few of the students substituted words in some of the storties that would be deemed obscene.
Our journalism teacher was livid, especially when she found out the punishment was very lean.
Again, it wasn't race related, but hopefully those who did it receive their just punishment
Posted by: Steve Ramirez | June 26, 2008 11:47 AM
this is whats wrong with america. All these overly sensitive minorities see an issue like this and over blow it. get a sense a humor and GET A LIFE!!
Posted by: get a life morons | June 26, 2008 11:39 AM
......"This is on the front page of our newspaper and will get more coverage on television today, I assure you........"
Great Fred you called the TV media to whop it up - well doen.
Fact is is this is the front page story for the Trib today then all of us in the SGV are having a good day - no murders, no rpaes, no armed robbery or assault, no houses burning down, etc. If this is worthy of the front page toaday - today is a good day.
Posted by: SDf | June 26, 2008 11:34 AM
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH SPORTS???????
Yes I am shouting!
Posted by: ????? | June 26, 2008 11:30 AM
Nancy Grace should be talking about this. This is an unbelievable act of hatred toward African Americans. The school should do everything in their power to right the wrong. They're under the microscope now, so do the right thing.
But when my kid gets called a cracker, honkey or whet-o (sorry don't know the spelling) he's supposed to laugh it off -- this came from a shcool administator...hummm
Posted by: gimme a break | June 26, 2008 10:33 AM
More reaction comments from the story thread.....
For all those affected and those willing to wait, they should be given the opportunity for a replacement at the school's cost and within a relatively quick period of time, one as no later than 30 days. It is the right thing to do.
gee
United States
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Year books should be recalled and redone correctly. Student who did this should not be allowed to graduate PERIOD!
Justice Never Quits
Atlanta, GA.
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My alma mater has always done stupid things like this. The BSU should get an apology, but realistically, this is what you get when you have a 16/17 year olds working on this so-called "very significant" book. Great job proofing this, Ms. Shockey. Glad to see teachers are improving at the same rate as the kids.
Justice Never Quits
Atlanta, GA
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Welcome to the real world kids, you're feelings are going to get hurt, people will upset you, you will disagree with people, you will be offended by numerous things.
If this is the only thing in your young life that you need get upset over then you as young people are not prepared for the real world and a rude awaking awaits you.
What's next you're going to call in that race baiter Al Sharpton?
Get over it and move on! My Goodness!
Casual Reader
Los Angeles, CA
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For two years in a row, a local high school has incorrectly matched the names with the pictures. Isn't the yearbook staff, the students, being supervised? At the cost of these books, you would expect a close to perfect product. In addition, the Junior and lower class pics are id pic. I agree that the books should be recalled and reprinted at the school's expense. So some high official at the school doesn't get his/her bonus this year. That's the price you gotta pay!
Covina Man
AOL
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Tacky, disgraceful joke! I agree:(1) All yearbooks be redone, but how about letting the parent(s) of the prankster pay for the cost of re-printing them? That should send a message to anyone else who might be considering a similar "joke" for next year's Yearbook. And student responsible be taken off Yearbook staff for upcoming year.(2) Advisor/teacher should be reprimanded, perhaps removed from the position of advisor for the coming school year. Possible this "joke" was slipped in after all proof-reading was done, but still, shows poor supervision.(3) The students who were singled out for this crass joke should get a personal apology from the racist twit with the childish sense of humor in front of the entire school.
Patriot Man
Glendora, CA
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Why is there a need for a Black Student Union? This is high school, not a labor force. This was a stupid thing to do to their yearbooks, and I would be very upset, as well, but high schools don't need this race dividing crap in the first place. Would are they thinking?
kim
Glendora, CA
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Gee, so I smell a lawsuit brewing? These parents will prove how "upset" they are by suing for emotional damages. And what will that do? Blaming the school for not proofing adequately, for giving stickers to place over the fake names and demanding that the yearbooks be replaced isn't going to change anything. The deed has been done. I agree with the previous poster, let the student who did this pay the cost for reprinting to those students who want new yearbooks. Besides financial restitution, maybe he/she should spend their senior year at continuation school.
GEAH
Calabasas, CA
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Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 10:17 AM
Look, we don't know who did this, it's probably an isolated incident by one dumb individual and a yearbook staff that didn't proofread close enough. My big concern here is that the school act appropriately and reprint the yearbooks for those that want it. This is on the front page of our newspaper and will get more coverage on television today, I assure you. How Charter Oak reacts under the spotlight of the media and outraged parents is important.
Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 10:00 AM
I hope this story gets exploited to the maximum. Athletes or not it was racially motivated not a funny prank The year books should be recalled and reprinted (what a cover up to hand out stickers), the person or persons that did this should be dismissed from COHS. If it is true that blacks and Latinos are jokes of the student body there at Charter Oak HS then there are some serious issues there. Charter Oak was a predominantly white neighborhood back in day but times have changed and all this hatred of Black and Latinos is something that goes way back and must be driven by the white kids parents that cannot get over the fact that other races now live in Charter Oak other then white. There is still allot of racism in the Charter Oak Area, as a Latino I get those stares from white people in markets and restaurants. I do not let it bother me because I am not the one with the problem they are. I hope Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, Villarigosa and the La Raza Unida stage a rally and protest over this school allowing this to happen. But it is all good when the Black and Hispanic athletes of Charter Oak HS are bringing them chanpionships. Typical of the white people of CO to bring their kids up this way. Some not all.
Posted by: Cant we all just get along | June 26, 2008 9:48 AM
Nancy Grace should be talking about this. This is an unbelievable act of hatred toward African Americans. The school should do everything in their power to right the wrong. They're under the microscope now, so do the right thing.
Posted by: Unbelievable | June 26, 2008 9:48 AM
Some joke. I hope the punk who orchestrated it gets lots of yuks out of his pals at Arrow next term.
Posted by: Don | June 26, 2008 9:31 AM
I'm sure Coach Farrar is upset about this. Athletics are often great for bringing communities closer together. A hurtful "joke" like this can tear them apart.
Posted by: New York | June 26, 2008 9:16 AM
I think the district needs to reprint for anyone that wants a new book. I'm thinking if that were my kid, you can put that sticker on your ass. I want a corrected book. What a weak way of sweeping the problem under the carpet with stickers. How embarassing that was for her to be told to hand out to her friends. Not offering a new book is like saying ...oh its not that bad...get over it..but what if a more racial slur was used? Would the district still hand out stickers? And for you latino families...if someone put the "Frito Bandito" under you kids name would you just sit around and do nothing?? I wouldn't.
Posted by: closure | June 26, 2008 8:57 AM
Good for you, Fred. This is an issue that should be addressed from the Right and Left. I've seen people get in trouble for far lesser offenses related to the yearbook. I am surprised that there was not type of final sign-off for each page that gets printed. Considering the cost of producing these, I would assume there would be more accountability.
This type of prank creates hurt and distrust far beyond the two students mentioned above. What a crappy way to end the school year.
Posted by: New York | June 26, 2008 8:53 AM
When there are Tribune area athletes involved, especially super track standouts such as these two, then it becomes sports news as well.
BS - that's a classic weak excuse - this had NOTHING to do with sports. Also by your comment it was only worthy because these are "super track standouts"
You are nothing but trash
Posted by: tired | June 26, 2008 8:50 AM
Because of all the fundraising we do for these yearbooks, my question is... where is the money going to come from to reprint & replace?
Should be the fine for the kid's family that did this.
Is their Yearbook Advisor still their advisor? just curious....
Posted by: Yearbook staff parent | June 26, 2008 8:50 AM
When there are Tribune area athletes involved, especially super track standouts such as these two, then it becomes sports news as well.
Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 8:45 AM
It has nothing to do with sympathy for victims - it is about sticking to the point - do your job man - stop using this forumn as a personal preaching post. It's tired, old, and very unprofessional.
Posted by: Tired | June 26, 2008 8:41 AM
And why should you care, there's enough prep subjects here, if you don't like this one, skip to the next one.
Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 8:39 AM
It's amazing that this post would draw that kind of reaction instead of sympathy for the victims.
Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 8:38 AM
Your F'n job is to report on high school sports stories - not "to put pressure on the school...."
Give us a break - get off the soapbox you POS
Posted by: Tired | June 26, 2008 8:35 AM
First, I won't be surprised if this becomes a national story. It's that outrageous. Second, two of the students are from the track team, and as far as I'm concerned, whatever we can do to put pressure on the school to act appropriately, we should do.
Posted by: FredJ | June 26, 2008 8:28 AM
Fred
What does this have to do with Sports? Other than one of the members of the BSU was a track athlete?
Stick to Sports Fred - your politicing is getting real old
Posted by: What | June 26, 2008 8:23 AM