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Was it really worth missing first period? Was it worth the after school detention that came along with it? Absolutely.

From the First Amendment, we, as Americans, have the freedom of speech, press, and also the freedom to peacefully assemble. That is exactly what the students at Granite Hills were doing; they were exercising a right for a cause they felt worthy.

The police officer on the scene, Officer Lightfoot, said,” It [the protest] has been very peaceful. These kids are out here doing what they need to do. I mean, this is what the United States is about, freedom of speech. I’m all for civil disobedience, as long as it stays peaceful,” He concluded agreeably.

I was at the protest myself. Being in the middle of this civil disobedience was an experience I will never forget. Most of the kids, including myself, felt they needed to stand up; to have a voice. The kids out there were standing up for two reasons. One was because they were upset that the previous swim coach of the girls’ team, David Gong, was switched to the boys’ swim team. Second, and more importantly, they were out there to stand up against what they felt was discrimination.

Some students believed discrimination resulted from the unfair distribution of concessions; they believed some teams were being scheduled and given far more opportunities to run the concession stands during the profitable football, basketball, and volleyball games.

Yet administration says every team was given the same opportunities to run concessions for their team.

We’ve all seen the articles in the Porterville Recorder. I, personally, do not believe they are asking the right questions. One side is screaming for fairness and equality. The other side is screaming back that every team has had equal opportunity.

I was extremely proud of my fellow students for taking a stand for what can be called “the little people.” Just like the students at UC Berkeley and UC Davis have done, so have my fellow peers, right here in Porterville, for a reason that is respectable, arguable, and important.

I strongly believe in the rights given in the Bill of Rights and I am actually excited by the fact that my peers exercised those rights.

Adrian Yahuaca, a senior, says,” I’m glad I was out there supporting what I believe in, even knowing the repercussions.”

During my chat with Superintendent Snavely, many students brought up different occasions where they tried to communicate their concerns with Mr.Bottoms, the principal at Granite Hills. Snavely’s response was somewhere along the lines that the students should have come to him then, if their issues were not being addressed. Superintendent Snavely, mind you, who is the in charge of 4 other high schools, and Granite Hills.

My response to that is: You should not have to go to the President for a local robbery issue. I do not believe it was fair to pin the blame back on the students for not going through the “proper channels of communication,” when some of them already had.

As for the rest of my opinion, I will not form it until I have asked all the questions I need, and gathered all of the information I request.

Look for upcoming articles in the news section on Gong and concessions.

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