Last month the new Human Relations Commission met for the first time and began to try to think about its new charter. Many of the members I do not think really understand what goes on in
First, the Principal from one of the Junior High Schools came and told about an incident where a student was harassed by over a dozen of his classmates who attacked him with anti-gay statements. From listening to the Principal it sounded as though the school was taking many necessary steps to rectify the problem. But then the father spoke up and told us that only a few of the culprits were suspended for their action. More alarmingly is the fact that the student returned to class a few days later and was harassed again. So he was pulled out, and came back again, and harassed yet again. Now the student has missed three weeks of school. They were attacking this kid with anti-gay slurs because he has two fathers. Both fathers came and told about the situation and both expressed concern about what they saw as the lack of response by the staff to this situation.
Despite the claims of the HRC Chair, John Dixon, this is not merely an issue of the school district. The harrassment of the student has also occurred off campus to the point where the harassers have followed the student home and even vadalized his home.
The response to the parents concerns by the HRC was mixed. At a personal level members expressed shock and dismay. Shelley Bailes was outraged. But Chair Dixon expressed the fact that this was now largely an educational body. Other members seemed uncomfortable with those prospects.
This dovetailed into an agenda item raised last week by Heystek that the resolution re-authorizing the HRC was at odds with the anti-Discrimination Ordinance. One of the tasks set forth by the council for the HRC was to determine whether the two are incompatible and what should be done including the possibility of re-writing the anti-Discrimination ordinance, one of the most sweeping in the country. The other possibility was to recommend to the council to re-write the resolution to be in compliance with the ordinance.
Two of the members including Bailes and Vice Chair Najme Minhaj seemed very uncomfortable with doing this. Arthur Clinton and alternate Thomas Hagler (who was acting as a full member with only five regulars there) seemed comfortable with the idea that the council could change the ordinance.
This is a real threat to the anti-discrimination ordinance–a landmark ordinance written in 1986 that authorizes the HRC to be far more than just an educational body and authorizes it to mediate and investigate acts of discrimination. The previous HRC, despite what certain members of the community said and what certain councilmembers stated, was actually acting within their full authority.
There were members of the new HRC that were clearly caught within a quandary of the obvious intent of the majority of council to roll back the duties of the HRC and the obvious need to address acts like the one they listened to last night.
At the end of the day, the new HRC is going to realize exactly why the old HRC did as it did. They are going to hear complaint after complaint come forward and become increasingly frustrated if they indeed change the ordinance to remove the power from the HRC to investigate.
The most refreshing thing was to listen to the comments of Rahim Reed. I had not seen him or met him in person, and so it was unclear where he stood on a number of issues. Reed is the Vice Chancellor of the Officer of Campus Community Relations. He’s an African American man, and he stood up there and said what a number of us have been saying for the past year.
The new HRC is going to learn very quickly what the real
—Doug Paul Davis reporting
“There were members of the new HRC that were clearly caught within a quandary of the obvious intent of the majority of council to roll back the duties of the HRC and the obvious need to address acts like the one they listened to last night.”
Doug,
I don’t know anything more about this case of harrassment than you report in this story. But when you suggest that the HRC needs “to address acts like the one they listened to last night,” what exactly does that mean?
It seems to me that the school district, first and foremost, needs to address this particular problem. They need to make sure that no students are threatened or harrassed in this manner, and they need to punish any students who are violating this victim’s rights.
Secondly, insofar as this is also occurring off campus, the police need to get involved. (I’m not clear that name calling, if that is all that is going on, is a criminal matter. But if the kid feels physically threatened, then perhaps there is something the cops can do.)
I think it was, insofar as the child’s parents felt that the school was not doing enough to protect their son, right to bring the matter before a public body. That will hopefully put pressure on the school to do more. (I suspect that the parents would also turn to the School Board.)
Whereas I don’t think that there is any action that the HRC could take to rectify this particular situation, there are many things that the school could do. First and foremost, they could identify the harrassers, call in their parents and let them know what is going on, and suspend those kids from school. If that didn’t solve the problem, they could ratchet things up by publicly shaming the harrassers and their parents. And beyond that, they could expel the harrassers entirely.
Hopefully, as more people in Davis become aware of this case, the school will know it has to take stronger action to resolve this matter.
“There were members of the new HRC that were clearly caught within a quandary of the obvious intent of the majority of council to roll back the duties of the HRC and the obvious need to address acts like the one they listened to last night.”
Doug,
I don’t know anything more about this case of harrassment than you report in this story. But when you suggest that the HRC needs “to address acts like the one they listened to last night,” what exactly does that mean?
It seems to me that the school district, first and foremost, needs to address this particular problem. They need to make sure that no students are threatened or harrassed in this manner, and they need to punish any students who are violating this victim’s rights.
Secondly, insofar as this is also occurring off campus, the police need to get involved. (I’m not clear that name calling, if that is all that is going on, is a criminal matter. But if the kid feels physically threatened, then perhaps there is something the cops can do.)
I think it was, insofar as the child’s parents felt that the school was not doing enough to protect their son, right to bring the matter before a public body. That will hopefully put pressure on the school to do more. (I suspect that the parents would also turn to the School Board.)
Whereas I don’t think that there is any action that the HRC could take to rectify this particular situation, there are many things that the school could do. First and foremost, they could identify the harrassers, call in their parents and let them know what is going on, and suspend those kids from school. If that didn’t solve the problem, they could ratchet things up by publicly shaming the harrassers and their parents. And beyond that, they could expel the harrassers entirely.
Hopefully, as more people in Davis become aware of this case, the school will know it has to take stronger action to resolve this matter.
“There were members of the new HRC that were clearly caught within a quandary of the obvious intent of the majority of council to roll back the duties of the HRC and the obvious need to address acts like the one they listened to last night.”
Doug,
I don’t know anything more about this case of harrassment than you report in this story. But when you suggest that the HRC needs “to address acts like the one they listened to last night,” what exactly does that mean?
It seems to me that the school district, first and foremost, needs to address this particular problem. They need to make sure that no students are threatened or harrassed in this manner, and they need to punish any students who are violating this victim’s rights.
Secondly, insofar as this is also occurring off campus, the police need to get involved. (I’m not clear that name calling, if that is all that is going on, is a criminal matter. But if the kid feels physically threatened, then perhaps there is something the cops can do.)
I think it was, insofar as the child’s parents felt that the school was not doing enough to protect their son, right to bring the matter before a public body. That will hopefully put pressure on the school to do more. (I suspect that the parents would also turn to the School Board.)
Whereas I don’t think that there is any action that the HRC could take to rectify this particular situation, there are many things that the school could do. First and foremost, they could identify the harrassers, call in their parents and let them know what is going on, and suspend those kids from school. If that didn’t solve the problem, they could ratchet things up by publicly shaming the harrassers and their parents. And beyond that, they could expel the harrassers entirely.
Hopefully, as more people in Davis become aware of this case, the school will know it has to take stronger action to resolve this matter.
“There were members of the new HRC that were clearly caught within a quandary of the obvious intent of the majority of council to roll back the duties of the HRC and the obvious need to address acts like the one they listened to last night.”
Doug,
I don’t know anything more about this case of harrassment than you report in this story. But when you suggest that the HRC needs “to address acts like the one they listened to last night,” what exactly does that mean?
It seems to me that the school district, first and foremost, needs to address this particular problem. They need to make sure that no students are threatened or harrassed in this manner, and they need to punish any students who are violating this victim’s rights.
Secondly, insofar as this is also occurring off campus, the police need to get involved. (I’m not clear that name calling, if that is all that is going on, is a criminal matter. But if the kid feels physically threatened, then perhaps there is something the cops can do.)
I think it was, insofar as the child’s parents felt that the school was not doing enough to protect their son, right to bring the matter before a public body. That will hopefully put pressure on the school to do more. (I suspect that the parents would also turn to the School Board.)
Whereas I don’t think that there is any action that the HRC could take to rectify this particular situation, there are many things that the school could do. First and foremost, they could identify the harrassers, call in their parents and let them know what is going on, and suspend those kids from school. If that didn’t solve the problem, they could ratchet things up by publicly shaming the harrassers and their parents. And beyond that, they could expel the harrassers entirely.
Hopefully, as more people in Davis become aware of this case, the school will know it has to take stronger action to resolve this matter.
“But then the father spoke up and told us that only a few of the culprits were suspended for their action. More alarmingly is the fact that the student returned to class a few days later and was harassed again. So he was pulled out, and came back again, and harassed yet again.”
I should amend my statement above to say that now is perhaps the time for the school district to move to the higher levels of punishment, shaming first, and then perhaps expulsion, for any culprits who were suspended and then resumed their harrassment.
“But then the father spoke up and told us that only a few of the culprits were suspended for their action. More alarmingly is the fact that the student returned to class a few days later and was harassed again. So he was pulled out, and came back again, and harassed yet again.”
I should amend my statement above to say that now is perhaps the time for the school district to move to the higher levels of punishment, shaming first, and then perhaps expulsion, for any culprits who were suspended and then resumed their harrassment.
“But then the father spoke up and told us that only a few of the culprits were suspended for their action. More alarmingly is the fact that the student returned to class a few days later and was harassed again. So he was pulled out, and came back again, and harassed yet again.”
I should amend my statement above to say that now is perhaps the time for the school district to move to the higher levels of punishment, shaming first, and then perhaps expulsion, for any culprits who were suspended and then resumed their harrassment.
“But then the father spoke up and told us that only a few of the culprits were suspended for their action. More alarmingly is the fact that the student returned to class a few days later and was harassed again. So he was pulled out, and came back again, and harassed yet again.”
I should amend my statement above to say that now is perhaps the time for the school district to move to the higher levels of punishment, shaming first, and then perhaps expulsion, for any culprits who were suspended and then resumed their harrassment.
Rich:
In the 2003 or 2004, I don’t remember which, issues of racism, bullying, and anti-gay harassment came up in the school district. The HRC worked with the Superintendent Dave Murphy, there was a meeting that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, sponsored by the HRC, parents came forwards–hundreds of them–to air complaints. The result of those negotiations and meetings were changes in policy and the establishment of the climate position (I forget the formal name).
Those are the type of things that the HRC did in the past that were able to resolve a lot of issues. Now the HRC lacks the power to investigate and mediate these sorts of incidents.
In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.
Now the council and yourself last June argued that the HRC was stirring up discontentment in this community. The HRC really wasn’t doing that. These incidents arise all the time. And a lot of times the schools or the city try to sweep this stuff under the rug and that creates a lot of the public acrimony.
However, the Council wants the HRC to play an educational role rather than an investigative role. And we now need to understand is that far from bringing down the level of tensions, they have removed a mechanism which was able to resolve a lot of these complaints without legal action. Now the recourse is going to be, more lawsuits.
Parents frustrated at the lack of action and now the lack of alternatives are going to end up filing more lawsuits. The result of Souza’s polices is going to be many more lawsuits because the HRC is no longer empowered to resolve these conflicts.
Rich:
In the 2003 or 2004, I don’t remember which, issues of racism, bullying, and anti-gay harassment came up in the school district. The HRC worked with the Superintendent Dave Murphy, there was a meeting that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, sponsored by the HRC, parents came forwards–hundreds of them–to air complaints. The result of those negotiations and meetings were changes in policy and the establishment of the climate position (I forget the formal name).
Those are the type of things that the HRC did in the past that were able to resolve a lot of issues. Now the HRC lacks the power to investigate and mediate these sorts of incidents.
In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.
Now the council and yourself last June argued that the HRC was stirring up discontentment in this community. The HRC really wasn’t doing that. These incidents arise all the time. And a lot of times the schools or the city try to sweep this stuff under the rug and that creates a lot of the public acrimony.
However, the Council wants the HRC to play an educational role rather than an investigative role. And we now need to understand is that far from bringing down the level of tensions, they have removed a mechanism which was able to resolve a lot of these complaints without legal action. Now the recourse is going to be, more lawsuits.
Parents frustrated at the lack of action and now the lack of alternatives are going to end up filing more lawsuits. The result of Souza’s polices is going to be many more lawsuits because the HRC is no longer empowered to resolve these conflicts.
Rich:
In the 2003 or 2004, I don’t remember which, issues of racism, bullying, and anti-gay harassment came up in the school district. The HRC worked with the Superintendent Dave Murphy, there was a meeting that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, sponsored by the HRC, parents came forwards–hundreds of them–to air complaints. The result of those negotiations and meetings were changes in policy and the establishment of the climate position (I forget the formal name).
Those are the type of things that the HRC did in the past that were able to resolve a lot of issues. Now the HRC lacks the power to investigate and mediate these sorts of incidents.
In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.
Now the council and yourself last June argued that the HRC was stirring up discontentment in this community. The HRC really wasn’t doing that. These incidents arise all the time. And a lot of times the schools or the city try to sweep this stuff under the rug and that creates a lot of the public acrimony.
However, the Council wants the HRC to play an educational role rather than an investigative role. And we now need to understand is that far from bringing down the level of tensions, they have removed a mechanism which was able to resolve a lot of these complaints without legal action. Now the recourse is going to be, more lawsuits.
Parents frustrated at the lack of action and now the lack of alternatives are going to end up filing more lawsuits. The result of Souza’s polices is going to be many more lawsuits because the HRC is no longer empowered to resolve these conflicts.
Rich:
In the 2003 or 2004, I don’t remember which, issues of racism, bullying, and anti-gay harassment came up in the school district. The HRC worked with the Superintendent Dave Murphy, there was a meeting that lasted until the wee hours of the morning, sponsored by the HRC, parents came forwards–hundreds of them–to air complaints. The result of those negotiations and meetings were changes in policy and the establishment of the climate position (I forget the formal name).
Those are the type of things that the HRC did in the past that were able to resolve a lot of issues. Now the HRC lacks the power to investigate and mediate these sorts of incidents.
In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.
Now the council and yourself last June argued that the HRC was stirring up discontentment in this community. The HRC really wasn’t doing that. These incidents arise all the time. And a lot of times the schools or the city try to sweep this stuff under the rug and that creates a lot of the public acrimony.
However, the Council wants the HRC to play an educational role rather than an investigative role. And we now need to understand is that far from bringing down the level of tensions, they have removed a mechanism which was able to resolve a lot of these complaints without legal action. Now the recourse is going to be, more lawsuits.
Parents frustrated at the lack of action and now the lack of alternatives are going to end up filing more lawsuits. The result of Souza’s polices is going to be many more lawsuits because the HRC is no longer empowered to resolve these conflicts.
Here’s the article from 2003:
Students testify about racism
Davis Enterprise, The (CA)
February 25, 2003
Author: Beth Curda/Enterprise staff writer
Estimated printed pages: 3
Talk about racism at Davis High School became real for school district officials Monday night, as emotional students recounted experiences with violence, discrimination and taunting.
Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education members, Superintendent David Murphy, teachers and Davis City Council members joined more than 100 community members and students at a public forum on racism.
The forum, organized by the Davis Human Relations Commission and held Monday at the Veterans’ Memorial Center, produced a long list of possible solutions and nearly five hours of testimony and discussion.
“I thought there was a problem. I had no idea of the depth and breadth of the problem and how deep it seems to be within … our schools, particularly the high school,” Joan Sallee, school board president, said after hearing the students’ stories. “And I’m grateful for this meeting.”
Students, parents, teachers and others suggested boosting diversity appreciation in curriculum and the school environment; training teachers, counselors and staff to resolve and prevent discrimination; improve communication between students and administrators; and allow UC Davis students and interested community members to work with students.
“Some of what you see,” Emerson Junior High teacher Alison Kimmel told the students, “is not apathy; it’s ignorance. I don’t mean that as an excuse. I mean it as almost a starting point.”
Kimmel, a resource specialist teacher, called for more school staff training, saying some do not know how to handle racism. She encouraged students and others to resolve problems early so they do not escalate.
Emotional — at times tearful — students recounted vivid stories of discrimination and poor treatment on campus by their peers, administrators and staff. Some said they are uncomfortable talking to administrators about experiences. Others accused the school district of unfair punishments.
“There is no word in the English language like (the N-word),” Babajide Olupona, a DHS students and commission member, said, recalling years of discrimination and negative experiences in the schools and community. “No one really understands the impact of that word.”
Other students offered detailed accounts of discrimination, vandalism of their property and violence based on race, ethnicity, religion and status.
City Councilwoman Ruth Asmundson, emotional, offered her own story: Following the council’s Feb. 5 decision regarding the proposed UC Davis biocontainment laboratory, she said, “I got a lot of e-mails and phone calls — very nasty phone calls, especially one that said I should learn how to speak English better. … I try not to think of it as discrimination. But it really hurt.”
Some speakers said the problems are beyond the schools, in the community; some called for collective action and families’ help.
Early in the meeting, Sallee listed several actions and programs within the school district to try to combat racism and foster respect.
“These are only the tip of the iceberg (of the actions) that have been taken, but they are not enough,” she said.
After the meeting, she said school officials need to investigate some of the allegations, understand the situation better and work to prevent additional problems.
Murphy, after hearing hours of criticism of the school district, said the forum was “very instructive (as to) what we and our entire community, including the schools, must do.”
He said he and commission Chairwoman Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald have pledged to work together to alleviate racism in the community and schools. He said classrooms and the curriculum foster education about civil rights and racism, but more needs to be done.
“I have known that racism exists in our community, therefore in our schools, in our country,” he said after the forum. “In that respect, (the situation) cannot be a surprise to anyone. But to hear the moving stories of our young people whom we care about so much motivates us much more deeply to do more.”
Respondents in The Davis Enterprise’s online “Pulse Poll” this week believe Davis is a racist community. Of the 175 votes tallied at http://www.davisenterprise.com as of midmorning, 48 percent answered yes, 39.4 percent answered no and 12.6 percent said they don’t know.
The forum was just one in a week of public meetings on the issue; the hearings were initiated following a hate crime that occurred in a West Davis neighborhood more than two weeks ago, when the N-word was found spray-painted on pavement near the home of an African-American couple.
Community members have flocked to public meetings to share thoughts and call for action. DHS students are expected to host a forum at lunchtime on Wednesday.
— Reach Beth Curda at mailto:bcurda@davisenterprise.net
Here’s the article from 2003:
Students testify about racism
Davis Enterprise, The (CA)
February 25, 2003
Author: Beth Curda/Enterprise staff writer
Estimated printed pages: 3
Talk about racism at Davis High School became real for school district officials Monday night, as emotional students recounted experiences with violence, discrimination and taunting.
Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education members, Superintendent David Murphy, teachers and Davis City Council members joined more than 100 community members and students at a public forum on racism.
The forum, organized by the Davis Human Relations Commission and held Monday at the Veterans’ Memorial Center, produced a long list of possible solutions and nearly five hours of testimony and discussion.
“I thought there was a problem. I had no idea of the depth and breadth of the problem and how deep it seems to be within … our schools, particularly the high school,” Joan Sallee, school board president, said after hearing the students’ stories. “And I’m grateful for this meeting.”
Students, parents, teachers and others suggested boosting diversity appreciation in curriculum and the school environment; training teachers, counselors and staff to resolve and prevent discrimination; improve communication between students and administrators; and allow UC Davis students and interested community members to work with students.
“Some of what you see,” Emerson Junior High teacher Alison Kimmel told the students, “is not apathy; it’s ignorance. I don’t mean that as an excuse. I mean it as almost a starting point.”
Kimmel, a resource specialist teacher, called for more school staff training, saying some do not know how to handle racism. She encouraged students and others to resolve problems early so they do not escalate.
Emotional — at times tearful — students recounted vivid stories of discrimination and poor treatment on campus by their peers, administrators and staff. Some said they are uncomfortable talking to administrators about experiences. Others accused the school district of unfair punishments.
“There is no word in the English language like (the N-word),” Babajide Olupona, a DHS students and commission member, said, recalling years of discrimination and negative experiences in the schools and community. “No one really understands the impact of that word.”
Other students offered detailed accounts of discrimination, vandalism of their property and violence based on race, ethnicity, religion and status.
City Councilwoman Ruth Asmundson, emotional, offered her own story: Following the council’s Feb. 5 decision regarding the proposed UC Davis biocontainment laboratory, she said, “I got a lot of e-mails and phone calls — very nasty phone calls, especially one that said I should learn how to speak English better. … I try not to think of it as discrimination. But it really hurt.”
Some speakers said the problems are beyond the schools, in the community; some called for collective action and families’ help.
Early in the meeting, Sallee listed several actions and programs within the school district to try to combat racism and foster respect.
“These are only the tip of the iceberg (of the actions) that have been taken, but they are not enough,” she said.
After the meeting, she said school officials need to investigate some of the allegations, understand the situation better and work to prevent additional problems.
Murphy, after hearing hours of criticism of the school district, said the forum was “very instructive (as to) what we and our entire community, including the schools, must do.”
He said he and commission Chairwoman Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald have pledged to work together to alleviate racism in the community and schools. He said classrooms and the curriculum foster education about civil rights and racism, but more needs to be done.
“I have known that racism exists in our community, therefore in our schools, in our country,” he said after the forum. “In that respect, (the situation) cannot be a surprise to anyone. But to hear the moving stories of our young people whom we care about so much motivates us much more deeply to do more.”
Respondents in The Davis Enterprise’s online “Pulse Poll” this week believe Davis is a racist community. Of the 175 votes tallied at http://www.davisenterprise.com as of midmorning, 48 percent answered yes, 39.4 percent answered no and 12.6 percent said they don’t know.
The forum was just one in a week of public meetings on the issue; the hearings were initiated following a hate crime that occurred in a West Davis neighborhood more than two weeks ago, when the N-word was found spray-painted on pavement near the home of an African-American couple.
Community members have flocked to public meetings to share thoughts and call for action. DHS students are expected to host a forum at lunchtime on Wednesday.
— Reach Beth Curda at mailto:bcurda@davisenterprise.net
Here’s the article from 2003:
Students testify about racism
Davis Enterprise, The (CA)
February 25, 2003
Author: Beth Curda/Enterprise staff writer
Estimated printed pages: 3
Talk about racism at Davis High School became real for school district officials Monday night, as emotional students recounted experiences with violence, discrimination and taunting.
Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education members, Superintendent David Murphy, teachers and Davis City Council members joined more than 100 community members and students at a public forum on racism.
The forum, organized by the Davis Human Relations Commission and held Monday at the Veterans’ Memorial Center, produced a long list of possible solutions and nearly five hours of testimony and discussion.
“I thought there was a problem. I had no idea of the depth and breadth of the problem and how deep it seems to be within … our schools, particularly the high school,” Joan Sallee, school board president, said after hearing the students’ stories. “And I’m grateful for this meeting.”
Students, parents, teachers and others suggested boosting diversity appreciation in curriculum and the school environment; training teachers, counselors and staff to resolve and prevent discrimination; improve communication between students and administrators; and allow UC Davis students and interested community members to work with students.
“Some of what you see,” Emerson Junior High teacher Alison Kimmel told the students, “is not apathy; it’s ignorance. I don’t mean that as an excuse. I mean it as almost a starting point.”
Kimmel, a resource specialist teacher, called for more school staff training, saying some do not know how to handle racism. She encouraged students and others to resolve problems early so they do not escalate.
Emotional — at times tearful — students recounted vivid stories of discrimination and poor treatment on campus by their peers, administrators and staff. Some said they are uncomfortable talking to administrators about experiences. Others accused the school district of unfair punishments.
“There is no word in the English language like (the N-word),” Babajide Olupona, a DHS students and commission member, said, recalling years of discrimination and negative experiences in the schools and community. “No one really understands the impact of that word.”
Other students offered detailed accounts of discrimination, vandalism of their property and violence based on race, ethnicity, religion and status.
City Councilwoman Ruth Asmundson, emotional, offered her own story: Following the council’s Feb. 5 decision regarding the proposed UC Davis biocontainment laboratory, she said, “I got a lot of e-mails and phone calls — very nasty phone calls, especially one that said I should learn how to speak English better. … I try not to think of it as discrimination. But it really hurt.”
Some speakers said the problems are beyond the schools, in the community; some called for collective action and families’ help.
Early in the meeting, Sallee listed several actions and programs within the school district to try to combat racism and foster respect.
“These are only the tip of the iceberg (of the actions) that have been taken, but they are not enough,” she said.
After the meeting, she said school officials need to investigate some of the allegations, understand the situation better and work to prevent additional problems.
Murphy, after hearing hours of criticism of the school district, said the forum was “very instructive (as to) what we and our entire community, including the schools, must do.”
He said he and commission Chairwoman Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald have pledged to work together to alleviate racism in the community and schools. He said classrooms and the curriculum foster education about civil rights and racism, but more needs to be done.
“I have known that racism exists in our community, therefore in our schools, in our country,” he said after the forum. “In that respect, (the situation) cannot be a surprise to anyone. But to hear the moving stories of our young people whom we care about so much motivates us much more deeply to do more.”
Respondents in The Davis Enterprise’s online “Pulse Poll” this week believe Davis is a racist community. Of the 175 votes tallied at http://www.davisenterprise.com as of midmorning, 48 percent answered yes, 39.4 percent answered no and 12.6 percent said they don’t know.
The forum was just one in a week of public meetings on the issue; the hearings were initiated following a hate crime that occurred in a West Davis neighborhood more than two weeks ago, when the N-word was found spray-painted on pavement near the home of an African-American couple.
Community members have flocked to public meetings to share thoughts and call for action. DHS students are expected to host a forum at lunchtime on Wednesday.
— Reach Beth Curda at mailto:bcurda@davisenterprise.net
Here’s the article from 2003:
Students testify about racism
Davis Enterprise, The (CA)
February 25, 2003
Author: Beth Curda/Enterprise staff writer
Estimated printed pages: 3
Talk about racism at Davis High School became real for school district officials Monday night, as emotional students recounted experiences with violence, discrimination and taunting.
Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education members, Superintendent David Murphy, teachers and Davis City Council members joined more than 100 community members and students at a public forum on racism.
The forum, organized by the Davis Human Relations Commission and held Monday at the Veterans’ Memorial Center, produced a long list of possible solutions and nearly five hours of testimony and discussion.
“I thought there was a problem. I had no idea of the depth and breadth of the problem and how deep it seems to be within … our schools, particularly the high school,” Joan Sallee, school board president, said after hearing the students’ stories. “And I’m grateful for this meeting.”
Students, parents, teachers and others suggested boosting diversity appreciation in curriculum and the school environment; training teachers, counselors and staff to resolve and prevent discrimination; improve communication between students and administrators; and allow UC Davis students and interested community members to work with students.
“Some of what you see,” Emerson Junior High teacher Alison Kimmel told the students, “is not apathy; it’s ignorance. I don’t mean that as an excuse. I mean it as almost a starting point.”
Kimmel, a resource specialist teacher, called for more school staff training, saying some do not know how to handle racism. She encouraged students and others to resolve problems early so they do not escalate.
Emotional — at times tearful — students recounted vivid stories of discrimination and poor treatment on campus by their peers, administrators and staff. Some said they are uncomfortable talking to administrators about experiences. Others accused the school district of unfair punishments.
“There is no word in the English language like (the N-word),” Babajide Olupona, a DHS students and commission member, said, recalling years of discrimination and negative experiences in the schools and community. “No one really understands the impact of that word.”
Other students offered detailed accounts of discrimination, vandalism of their property and violence based on race, ethnicity, religion and status.
City Councilwoman Ruth Asmundson, emotional, offered her own story: Following the council’s Feb. 5 decision regarding the proposed UC Davis biocontainment laboratory, she said, “I got a lot of e-mails and phone calls — very nasty phone calls, especially one that said I should learn how to speak English better. … I try not to think of it as discrimination. But it really hurt.”
Some speakers said the problems are beyond the schools, in the community; some called for collective action and families’ help.
Early in the meeting, Sallee listed several actions and programs within the school district to try to combat racism and foster respect.
“These are only the tip of the iceberg (of the actions) that have been taken, but they are not enough,” she said.
After the meeting, she said school officials need to investigate some of the allegations, understand the situation better and work to prevent additional problems.
Murphy, after hearing hours of criticism of the school district, said the forum was “very instructive (as to) what we and our entire community, including the schools, must do.”
He said he and commission Chairwoman Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald have pledged to work together to alleviate racism in the community and schools. He said classrooms and the curriculum foster education about civil rights and racism, but more needs to be done.
“I have known that racism exists in our community, therefore in our schools, in our country,” he said after the forum. “In that respect, (the situation) cannot be a surprise to anyone. But to hear the moving stories of our young people whom we care about so much motivates us much more deeply to do more.”
Respondents in The Davis Enterprise’s online “Pulse Poll” this week believe Davis is a racist community. Of the 175 votes tallied at http://www.davisenterprise.com as of midmorning, 48 percent answered yes, 39.4 percent answered no and 12.6 percent said they don’t know.
The forum was just one in a week of public meetings on the issue; the hearings were initiated following a hate crime that occurred in a West Davis neighborhood more than two weeks ago, when the N-word was found spray-painted on pavement near the home of an African-American couple.
Community members have flocked to public meetings to share thoughts and call for action. DHS students are expected to host a forum at lunchtime on Wednesday.
— Reach Beth Curda at mailto:bcurda@davisenterprise.net
Doug
The specific HRC action (past HRC) I disagreed with was when they went too far in trying to enforce anti bias/anti bullying behavior. People have gone to the HRC and claimed all sorts of things, but it is very important to understand that there are always two sides to every story. The HRC should never insist on specific action against specific people unless it listens to both sides – you can not judge a case based on a one sided allegation. There has to be due process.
To me it sounds like the school needs some ideas on how make a presentation on the realities of “non-traditional” families – Gay families, mixed race families, divorced families etc. Once the issues are laid out for the kids to see, the issues tend to go away.
The fact that Mr. Reed spoke is very positive. SAH
Doug
The specific HRC action (past HRC) I disagreed with was when they went too far in trying to enforce anti bias/anti bullying behavior. People have gone to the HRC and claimed all sorts of things, but it is very important to understand that there are always two sides to every story. The HRC should never insist on specific action against specific people unless it listens to both sides – you can not judge a case based on a one sided allegation. There has to be due process.
To me it sounds like the school needs some ideas on how make a presentation on the realities of “non-traditional” families – Gay families, mixed race families, divorced families etc. Once the issues are laid out for the kids to see, the issues tend to go away.
The fact that Mr. Reed spoke is very positive. SAH
Doug
The specific HRC action (past HRC) I disagreed with was when they went too far in trying to enforce anti bias/anti bullying behavior. People have gone to the HRC and claimed all sorts of things, but it is very important to understand that there are always two sides to every story. The HRC should never insist on specific action against specific people unless it listens to both sides – you can not judge a case based on a one sided allegation. There has to be due process.
To me it sounds like the school needs some ideas on how make a presentation on the realities of “non-traditional” families – Gay families, mixed race families, divorced families etc. Once the issues are laid out for the kids to see, the issues tend to go away.
The fact that Mr. Reed spoke is very positive. SAH
Doug
The specific HRC action (past HRC) I disagreed with was when they went too far in trying to enforce anti bias/anti bullying behavior. People have gone to the HRC and claimed all sorts of things, but it is very important to understand that there are always two sides to every story. The HRC should never insist on specific action against specific people unless it listens to both sides – you can not judge a case based on a one sided allegation. There has to be due process.
To me it sounds like the school needs some ideas on how make a presentation on the realities of “non-traditional” families – Gay families, mixed race families, divorced families etc. Once the issues are laid out for the kids to see, the issues tend to go away.
The fact that Mr. Reed spoke is very positive. SAH
“In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.”
I must concede that the case you refer to from 2003 (which I had forgotten), where the HRC organized a meeting with the school district to resolve this issue (as best they could), well supports your case, and by extension the case of the pro-HRC group.
However, because this story about the harrassment of the junior high student is a problem at his school, it seems to me that the school district itself, not the HRC, ought to be the body working to resolve this problem. (I have no problem with the parents going to the HRC to help make the case known among the wider community.) As such, the school board needs to be held accountable. The school board needs to make sure that no students are harrassed; and that if some are, that the harrassers are dealt with sternly.
If the school district neglects to enforce its policies, if it allows a child to be harrassed as such without cracking down on the harrassers, then the parents ought to sue the district.
I concede that there may be members of the current HRC who may have good suggestions as to how the school district ought to deal with a problem like this. There are probably members of the past HRC with good ideas, or just members of the community at large. As such, those individuals, as individuals, should go next Thursday to the school board meeting and speak up. If they think a new community forum on anti-gay prejudice would be helpful, then they ought to say that at the school board meeting (or directly to one or more of the Trustees). And if the Trustees don’t share their view on that, then they could hold such a forum as a private party for the public at large.
Finally, it would be interesting to see a survey of the students at Davis High right now, asking them their views on the climate regarding harrassment, racism and so on. If it is the same as it was 3.5 years ago, then the approach taken back then could be said to be a failure. If it has improved, then that approach perhaps should be expanded.
“In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.”
I must concede that the case you refer to from 2003 (which I had forgotten), where the HRC organized a meeting with the school district to resolve this issue (as best they could), well supports your case, and by extension the case of the pro-HRC group.
However, because this story about the harrassment of the junior high student is a problem at his school, it seems to me that the school district itself, not the HRC, ought to be the body working to resolve this problem. (I have no problem with the parents going to the HRC to help make the case known among the wider community.) As such, the school board needs to be held accountable. The school board needs to make sure that no students are harrassed; and that if some are, that the harrassers are dealt with sternly.
If the school district neglects to enforce its policies, if it allows a child to be harrassed as such without cracking down on the harrassers, then the parents ought to sue the district.
I concede that there may be members of the current HRC who may have good suggestions as to how the school district ought to deal with a problem like this. There are probably members of the past HRC with good ideas, or just members of the community at large. As such, those individuals, as individuals, should go next Thursday to the school board meeting and speak up. If they think a new community forum on anti-gay prejudice would be helpful, then they ought to say that at the school board meeting (or directly to one or more of the Trustees). And if the Trustees don’t share their view on that, then they could hold such a forum as a private party for the public at large.
Finally, it would be interesting to see a survey of the students at Davis High right now, asking them their views on the climate regarding harrassment, racism and so on. If it is the same as it was 3.5 years ago, then the approach taken back then could be said to be a failure. If it has improved, then that approach perhaps should be expanded.
“In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.”
I must concede that the case you refer to from 2003 (which I had forgotten), where the HRC organized a meeting with the school district to resolve this issue (as best they could), well supports your case, and by extension the case of the pro-HRC group.
However, because this story about the harrassment of the junior high student is a problem at his school, it seems to me that the school district itself, not the HRC, ought to be the body working to resolve this problem. (I have no problem with the parents going to the HRC to help make the case known among the wider community.) As such, the school board needs to be held accountable. The school board needs to make sure that no students are harrassed; and that if some are, that the harrassers are dealt with sternly.
If the school district neglects to enforce its policies, if it allows a child to be harrassed as such without cracking down on the harrassers, then the parents ought to sue the district.
I concede that there may be members of the current HRC who may have good suggestions as to how the school district ought to deal with a problem like this. There are probably members of the past HRC with good ideas, or just members of the community at large. As such, those individuals, as individuals, should go next Thursday to the school board meeting and speak up. If they think a new community forum on anti-gay prejudice would be helpful, then they ought to say that at the school board meeting (or directly to one or more of the Trustees). And if the Trustees don’t share their view on that, then they could hold such a forum as a private party for the public at large.
Finally, it would be interesting to see a survey of the students at Davis High right now, asking them their views on the climate regarding harrassment, racism and so on. If it is the same as it was 3.5 years ago, then the approach taken back then could be said to be a failure. If it has improved, then that approach perhaps should be expanded.
“In the past the HRC gave people like this child’s parents a public forum and a public that could work within the community to make changes. That doesn’t exist anymore. The HRC is trying to figure out its new role. And result is that a year ago, the HRC could have worked with the family and the district to resolve this, now the family is likely going to sue the district.”
I must concede that the case you refer to from 2003 (which I had forgotten), where the HRC organized a meeting with the school district to resolve this issue (as best they could), well supports your case, and by extension the case of the pro-HRC group.
However, because this story about the harrassment of the junior high student is a problem at his school, it seems to me that the school district itself, not the HRC, ought to be the body working to resolve this problem. (I have no problem with the parents going to the HRC to help make the case known among the wider community.) As such, the school board needs to be held accountable. The school board needs to make sure that no students are harrassed; and that if some are, that the harrassers are dealt with sternly.
If the school district neglects to enforce its policies, if it allows a child to be harrassed as such without cracking down on the harrassers, then the parents ought to sue the district.
I concede that there may be members of the current HRC who may have good suggestions as to how the school district ought to deal with a problem like this. There are probably members of the past HRC with good ideas, or just members of the community at large. As such, those individuals, as individuals, should go next Thursday to the school board meeting and speak up. If they think a new community forum on anti-gay prejudice would be helpful, then they ought to say that at the school board meeting (or directly to one or more of the Trustees). And if the Trustees don’t share their view on that, then they could hold such a forum as a private party for the public at large.
Finally, it would be interesting to see a survey of the students at Davis High right now, asking them their views on the climate regarding harrassment, racism and so on. If it is the same as it was 3.5 years ago, then the approach taken back then could be said to be a failure. If it has improved, then that approach perhaps should be expanded.
SAH: I understand your concern and I share it. The problem I saw was that when the police issue came up and to a lesser extent the bullying issue, the response by the other side was denial. At that point, they could not listen to both sides because one side was making allegations and the other side was stonewalling. Had the council gone to the past HRC and said look, we know there are problems with the police, we want to resolve them but we can’t go along with civilian review, can you work with us on an alternative? They would have gone with that in a second. But the city council decided to play games on this and the police dug in and stopped talking. The situation detiorated badly at that point.
Okay fine. The council’s solution was to disband the commission and rewrite the resolution changing the purview. The problem now is that they’ve made some changes with the police issue, but underlying problems are all still in place. There was a perception that the HRC created this stuff–they didn’t. And now you have a much weaker HRC, you have the same mentality among the authorities–and let me tell you–last night the climate control guy almost made me puke in my mouth when he said we’re better than West Sacramento on these issues. Well I should hope so, but that’s of no reassurance to a father who is going through this with his son.
The end result of council actions is that it is actually going to cause more tension, not less to get rid of the HRC as a release valve.
SAH: I understand your concern and I share it. The problem I saw was that when the police issue came up and to a lesser extent the bullying issue, the response by the other side was denial. At that point, they could not listen to both sides because one side was making allegations and the other side was stonewalling. Had the council gone to the past HRC and said look, we know there are problems with the police, we want to resolve them but we can’t go along with civilian review, can you work with us on an alternative? They would have gone with that in a second. But the city council decided to play games on this and the police dug in and stopped talking. The situation detiorated badly at that point.
Okay fine. The council’s solution was to disband the commission and rewrite the resolution changing the purview. The problem now is that they’ve made some changes with the police issue, but underlying problems are all still in place. There was a perception that the HRC created this stuff–they didn’t. And now you have a much weaker HRC, you have the same mentality among the authorities–and let me tell you–last night the climate control guy almost made me puke in my mouth when he said we’re better than West Sacramento on these issues. Well I should hope so, but that’s of no reassurance to a father who is going through this with his son.
The end result of council actions is that it is actually going to cause more tension, not less to get rid of the HRC as a release valve.
SAH: I understand your concern and I share it. The problem I saw was that when the police issue came up and to a lesser extent the bullying issue, the response by the other side was denial. At that point, they could not listen to both sides because one side was making allegations and the other side was stonewalling. Had the council gone to the past HRC and said look, we know there are problems with the police, we want to resolve them but we can’t go along with civilian review, can you work with us on an alternative? They would have gone with that in a second. But the city council decided to play games on this and the police dug in and stopped talking. The situation detiorated badly at that point.
Okay fine. The council’s solution was to disband the commission and rewrite the resolution changing the purview. The problem now is that they’ve made some changes with the police issue, but underlying problems are all still in place. There was a perception that the HRC created this stuff–they didn’t. And now you have a much weaker HRC, you have the same mentality among the authorities–and let me tell you–last night the climate control guy almost made me puke in my mouth when he said we’re better than West Sacramento on these issues. Well I should hope so, but that’s of no reassurance to a father who is going through this with his son.
The end result of council actions is that it is actually going to cause more tension, not less to get rid of the HRC as a release valve.
SAH: I understand your concern and I share it. The problem I saw was that when the police issue came up and to a lesser extent the bullying issue, the response by the other side was denial. At that point, they could not listen to both sides because one side was making allegations and the other side was stonewalling. Had the council gone to the past HRC and said look, we know there are problems with the police, we want to resolve them but we can’t go along with civilian review, can you work with us on an alternative? They would have gone with that in a second. But the city council decided to play games on this and the police dug in and stopped talking. The situation detiorated badly at that point.
Okay fine. The council’s solution was to disband the commission and rewrite the resolution changing the purview. The problem now is that they’ve made some changes with the police issue, but underlying problems are all still in place. There was a perception that the HRC created this stuff–they didn’t. And now you have a much weaker HRC, you have the same mentality among the authorities–and let me tell you–last night the climate control guy almost made me puke in my mouth when he said we’re better than West Sacramento on these issues. Well I should hope so, but that’s of no reassurance to a father who is going through this with his son.
The end result of council actions is that it is actually going to cause more tension, not less to get rid of the HRC as a release valve.
I do hope that this gets sorted out as the child has every right to attend school in a safe environment. The school’s Climate Committee should be part of this and the Police department. The police department has a new Youth Services Officer who could meet with the parents and their children to highlight the seriousness of the offenses being committed by the students. Shelly Bailes is on the HRC and the Police CAB. She could do more than just be outraged here. The police department and the school district both have representatives coming to the HRC and could look into what is happening with this child and collaborate on doing something effective. Lastly, HRC does not have the right to just wash its hands and do nothing. Perhaps a little education for the community about what life is like for teenagers who are different in our community would help.
I do hope that this gets sorted out as the child has every right to attend school in a safe environment. The school’s Climate Committee should be part of this and the Police department. The police department has a new Youth Services Officer who could meet with the parents and their children to highlight the seriousness of the offenses being committed by the students. Shelly Bailes is on the HRC and the Police CAB. She could do more than just be outraged here. The police department and the school district both have representatives coming to the HRC and could look into what is happening with this child and collaborate on doing something effective. Lastly, HRC does not have the right to just wash its hands and do nothing. Perhaps a little education for the community about what life is like for teenagers who are different in our community would help.
I do hope that this gets sorted out as the child has every right to attend school in a safe environment. The school’s Climate Committee should be part of this and the Police department. The police department has a new Youth Services Officer who could meet with the parents and their children to highlight the seriousness of the offenses being committed by the students. Shelly Bailes is on the HRC and the Police CAB. She could do more than just be outraged here. The police department and the school district both have representatives coming to the HRC and could look into what is happening with this child and collaborate on doing something effective. Lastly, HRC does not have the right to just wash its hands and do nothing. Perhaps a little education for the community about what life is like for teenagers who are different in our community would help.
I do hope that this gets sorted out as the child has every right to attend school in a safe environment. The school’s Climate Committee should be part of this and the Police department. The police department has a new Youth Services Officer who could meet with the parents and their children to highlight the seriousness of the offenses being committed by the students. Shelly Bailes is on the HRC and the Police CAB. She could do more than just be outraged here. The police department and the school district both have representatives coming to the HRC and could look into what is happening with this child and collaborate on doing something effective. Lastly, HRC does not have the right to just wash its hands and do nothing. Perhaps a little education for the community about what life is like for teenagers who are different in our community would help.