Desert Vista High School Senior class members are having to answer for this photo they took on Senior photo day.
Classy, right?
According to reports, the message was part of the slogan,"The best you've ever seen the class of 2016". However these charming young ladies decided this message of intolerance was important enough to get together and take so they could share how they feel and pass it around via the app Snapchat. People think that app discards your photo after 60 seconds or something like that [I don't have that app] but people can screen shot it and pass it around. Then everyone can see how you really feel.
My friend in MD thought I was messing with him when he saw this. I wish, I told him. How could they think this was in any way funny, he asked. Good question.
The punishment for this has been a 5 day suspension allegedly because they said it was,"just a joke." Also included is a link to a Change.org petition to expel the students for their "prank" [which I agree with] and fire the school principal,Christine Barela for not handing down the appropriate punishment. I don't think they were punished in the appropriate manner but I don't know if firing the principal is going to solve anything.
I'm speechless as well as embarrassed to be from the same state as your parents. I hope you're proud of yourselves. Oh and I felt free to post your unedited photo and names. No shame since it was just a joke, right kids?
Jan 23, 2016 TUHSD shares your outrage and disappointment over the actions of a few students. It is unacceptable for any racial slur to be used regardless of intent. That behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Desert Vista or in our district. Reports of a 5-day suspension are inaccurate. The disciplinary process is still ongoing and we can assure you the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
Okay. That petition posted the names and addresses of the colleges of several of the seniors in the photo asking for people to contact them to protest their admissions. I don't even know if that is something that would make a difference. It certainly seems.....excessive. If the statement is true and a 5 day suspension is not the punishment they got and something like expulsion is what they got, I have a feeling that might change things. Several are expected to participate in athletics [soccer] and one on a dance squad at a Christian college in Texas, something I found highly ironic since she and her buddies spelled out the N word on their shirts.
From AZCentral.com: Rachel Steigerwald, the girl in the "R" shirt came forward to make a public apology for her conduct and participation in the debacle that has become a media highlight this past week.
That couldn't have been easy. None of her fellow classmates joined her in her appearance at an event to protest the photo.
Good for you,young lady. Of all the stupid things I did at that age, I doubt I had the balls to publicly apologize for any of them. None of them called for a public apology but that's not the point.
