Being one of the most diverse high schools in the district, West High often prides itself on the diversity of its student body. However, this does not mean our campus is above reproach.

Despite our diversity, many students have noted instances of racism on our campus. Many of these, however, were not reported to administrators or teachers. This could be for many reasons. In an online survey, students (many chose to remain anonymous) said that they believed the hassle of working with admin and other authority figures was not “worth it” over such “small comments and microaggressions.” Other students fear being outcasted by their peers and labeled as “snitches.” Rodney McBride, who graduated from West High in 2016, stated, “There has been multiple incidents worth mentioning. Only one of them, however, were ‘reported’…” At the time of this incident, Troy Brown was West’s principal, and McBride was questioned over the ownership of the keys to his Lexus, which he drove at the time. McBride says an apology was issued.

However, some experiences were reported to the administrators, and they took appropriate disciplinary action. According to Assistant Principal Nico Sandoval, this involves anything from taking a witness statement of the alleged incident to “taking a look at security cameras” to get an idea of what happened. When asked, “Is it hard to balance the alleged victims’ desires with district policy?” Sandoval stated that while he was not “going to answer yes or no,” he noted they still follow up on reports made to them and take appropriate action so they are correctly handled. This may involve going against a student’s desires to some degree, as it allows for the proper people to be punished if there are any. Anonymity is always kept when following up on reports.

Although we have district policy to handle situations like this, one could argue that we as a school could do more to prevent racism before it occurs. No one is inherently racist, and it is often a result of ignorance from a lack of exposure to different cultures, races, and ethnicities. When asked, “How can we as a campus do more to support students of color?”, Sandoval and Assistant Principal Bond Cashmere stated that the district has a Diversity and Equity Board for which Dr. Stagnaro is West’s site representative. Cashmere also noted that West has new programs and clubs on campus that provide resources and support, particularly to men of color.

Although these changes are a step in the right direction, there is always more that we can do to ensure everyone feels protected and valued at West High. Perhaps a diversity statement could be drafted condemning racism on campus. Anyone can actively take a stance against racism by doing something as simple as condemning their friends’ or peers’ comments when they push harmful rhetoric or make prejudiced statements. Everyone deserves to feel safe on campus, and we can all do our part to ensure that happens.

For reference, during the 2020-21 school year, our student body was

56.3% Hispanic/Latino

7.1% Filipino

11.5% Asian

0.4% Native American or Alaskan Native

6.2% Black or African American

3.3% Two or more mixed races

13.7% White

1.3% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander