In school we "learn" that America is supposed to be this great, free country. They tell us about our rights and about fair and equal punishment for equal crimes. So, if they teach us about our rights, why do they deny them to us? Does the Bill of Rights not apply to those in school?
One night this April, after a performance of Grease at MVHS, a MVHS student and his older companion shot a gun hitting windows of the school and a staff member's car. The student was expelled for one year.
Several students took part in writing, publishing, and distributing the OUTSIDE!, two were caught, and one took most of the blame. Does he deserve the same punishment as someone who vandalized the school, and could have injured or killed someone?
For those of you who have seen the first issue of OUTSIDE!, you can decide for yourself whether or not a crime has been committed. Could anything that was written have been considered libel? If not, what about freedom of the press? No one was unfairly represented and it was an honest account of how those involved felt. Is it a crime for students to voice their opinions?
Not only those thought to be involved with the OUTSIDE! (and the staff was merely guessing), were questioned, but their friends were interrogated as well. It is unfair that students are threatened with punishment by the administration for not narking on their friends--and this occurs often.
And now that the staff is aware of the OUTSIDE! and the opinions voiced in it, what are they doing to solve the problem? Trying to work with us or even acknowledge our opinions? No, they are punishing those involved (the ones they can get their hands on) or anyone who even has a copy of it. They are punished to the extent of someone who put lives in danger, just for writing their opinions, and letting them be known. The administration is denying these opinions exist.
Students! Can we let them keep denying us our freedom of speech? Are we just going to sit here and remain silent? No! We need to keep voicing our concerns, especially those that are different from the general mainstream of students' opinions. Everyone deserves a chance to be heard. If you have something you want to voice in the OUTSIDE!, give your article to whom ever you got this copy from, and they should know what to do with it, or you can E-mail your opinions to OUTSIDE! at fan_letters@hotmail.com . We cannot continue to be repressed. Voice your opinions! Silence is death!
