Sleepover protests Bush's policies; Boulder High School students seeking to make voices heard

The Rocky Mountain News ^ | 11-5-04 | Berny Morson

[mondoman]

BOULDER - Students were preparing to spend the night at Boulder High School Thursday to protest policies of the Bush administration.

About 50 students carrying guitars and boxes of crackers and Froot Loops took over part of the library at the end of the school day. They vowed not to leave until they had a chance to meet with elected officials.

Under an agreement with Principal Ron Cabrera, they were allowed to stay the night, but must clean up and be gone by 7 a.m., when the library opens.

A teacher and several parents agreed to be chaperones, Cabrera said.

It was not clear if they would meet with elected officials. A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, whose district includes Boulder, said no one from the congressman's office was scheduled to attend.

Stephen Lobanov Rostovsky, 17, a senior, said the protest is meant to get adults to hear their opinions.

Rostovsky said he talks to elected leaders, "but there's no assurance for me that someone will actually take me seriously."

"This is going to hopefully change that by letting people know that adolescents are there and by saying, 'We're not going to take this. We want a voice, too. We want a place in this democracy. . . . We should have a say.' "

The students' list of grievances cites the war in Iraq, which they called "unjust and misguided."

The students also oppose federal regulations requiring schools to admit military recruiters or lose funding.

The protesters are members of a group called Student Worker that periodically stages protests. In the past, it has opposed statewide student testing.

Thursday's protest was planned even before it was known who would win Tuesday's election, Rostovsky said.

English teacher Jim Vacca, the faculty adviser for Student Worker, said, "I think they seriously want to engage adults in talk about some of the issues that will affect them."

Student Worker is not affiliated with Boulder's peace community.

But, Vacca said, "I think the Boulder community at large is supportive of kids who take an active role in their own lives" and take a mature and reasoned look at issues.

Cabrera, the principal, initially said the students had to leave by 5 p.m., but he relented after meeting with Rostovsky.

"I'm not fearful they'll do damage to the school," Cabrera said.

"What we try to do at Boulder High is to have kids who can ask questions, sometimes challenge the status quo in a thoughtful manner, and I hope if we're doing our education right we're creating that kind of citizenry," the principal said.

[mondoman]

who just got a $ raise in the minimum wage if they move to NV or FL...

[stampy57]

I am a student at boulder high who was in the protests. First of all you don't even have the slightest clue what we were protesting in there do you. I don't think you should be talking about some thing, when you dont know all of it. Second, we care what happens but don't have a voice, and this was the only way we felt we could get herd. Just because we are not old enough to vote does not mean we are just going to sit back and watch, what we feel is wrong, happen. Lastly, the fact that all you can do is insult a bunch of high school kids with childish mocking like fruit loop, is just sad. We never called you any names or made fun of your beliefs, and we wont because we have respect for every one. Not just the ones that agree with us./

[WinOne4TheGipper]

You don't have the slightest clue. Grow up and don't follow the herd mentality.

[Sam Cree]

Any group with a name like "Student Workers" has to actually be communist.

I notice their list of grievances seems primarily to be that Bush removed a brutal monster from power in Iraq.
'Course they share that objection with most of the Left.

[dfwgator]

I am a student at boulder high who was in the protests.

Based on the spelling and grammar of your post, they are doing a pretty poor job of teaching you guys English.

[mollynme]

We know exactly what you were protesting sweetie. I heard your "advisor" on the Mike Rosen show the day after your "sleepover" and know just where you got the stuff you have been parroting.
I hope some day you will mature enough to think for yourself and start questioning all of the garbage your liberal teachers (and parents??)have been handing you. Seeing as you are in Boulder, however, I doubt it.
I see they are still teaching virtual spelling down there, too! LOL

[antaresequity]

what we feel is wrong,

Nobody gives a crap how you "Feel", and we certainly could care less about your "Opinion". State supporting facts, and make a damn argument...

Otherwise STFU until you are puting food on the table, and/or are meeting a payroll.

Have you ever considered for one moment that you have been duped and brainwashed by your liberal faculty?

[showme_the_Glory]

kids of hippie mom and dads.....ho humm

[BJClinton]

Boulder's peace community.

Why are they called "Peace Community". Shouldn't it be "Pacifist community"? Or "Appeasist Community"?

[treadstone71]

"First of all you don't even have the slightest clue what we were protesting"

Well, here's your chance. What were you protesting? Other than "Our teacher/parents/friends say Bush is bad."

"We never called you any names or made fun of your beliefs"

So nobody there called Republicans/conservatives "stupid", "uneducated", "brainwashed", "Jesus freaks", "Bible thumpers" or made any other disparaging remarks like we've seen over the last few days in various publications?

" we wont because we have respect for every one"

So there would be no problem, either with you or the administration, if 50 students had a sleepover/sit-in/other demonstration in support of Bush?

If you answer yes to those last two, please understand if we don't entirely believe you. We are talking about Boulder, where, if I remember correctly, American flags were taken down after 9/11 because they might offend non-citizens, but there was no problem with the public art exhibition featuring several ceramic dildos, even though that offended citizens.

[stampy57]

We, student worker, no party lines involved, have not done any thing to you. Every thing you say we called you is not true. We are lessening to both sides, unlike you, who just bad mouths people. I am glad to see you stopped using your childish name calling though. You say you know what we are protesting, but you have not named one correctly. We never complained that bush is in office, or what he is doing. We were protesting not having a voice in are future. That is all we want, but people like you just refuse to lessen, to what any one says.

[antaresequity]

Jim Vacca (students faculty representative):

Chair of the Boulder High School Gay/Straight Alliance
Chair of the Boulder High School Student Workers Club

Jim Vacca being interviewed

Notice the Student Workers Banner Red Star...socialist snot

How Specia l(Lesbians?)! Note the defaced American Flag in the background with the peace sign.( Emma Gomis, left, and Alex Eason, both 15, celebrate after hearing that Boulder High School's administration will let them spend the night in the school library to protest the 'direction the country is going.' )

Bob Vacca Quote on Colorado School Testing: [Please Note that Mr Vacca has a problem with American identity]:

"CSAP is a business-driven, government-enforced protocol designed to maximize American homogenity."

Jim Vacca on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict:

I approach this issue as a member of Tikkun, a grass-roots community that supports the Geneva Accord and a progressive middle path that is both pro-Israel and pro-Palestine. It seeks reconciliation as a pathway to security and peace. Tikkun's broader vision of transformation is reminiscent of Martin Luther King's struggle for freedom and dignity, a struggle inspired not only by a plan but a dream. The Geneva Accord is a workable plan paving the way to a dream of peace that can be realized.

Tikkun Resolution for Middle East Peace [Vacca is signatory]:

Return of Israel to its pre-1967 borders, with minor border modifications mutually agreed upon (language adopted at Taba in 2001 by both parties to indicate that a few Israeli border settlements and the Jewish sections of Jerusalem including the Wall would be incorporated into Israel, and that Arab sections of Jerusalem including the al-Aksa mosque would be incorporated into Palestine);

From the Tikkun Charter that Jim Vacca subscribes to, and one can conclude, he teaches his students:

As Americans we can no longer worry only about what is "best for America," as Jews we can no longer worry only about what is "best for the Jews," as Christians we can no longer worry only about what is "best for the Christians," etc. We need to see ourselves as manifestations of Spirit—the unfolding of the love and goodness of the universe as it becomes conscious through us.

[dfwgator]

We are lessening to both sides

Just what is "lessening"?

[Doc Savage]

Children of the corn!

[ladylib]

Is this the town where students have to agree to come to the aid of homosexual students if they are teased by someone, and if they don't agree to that, they won't get their diploma?

[Not A Snowbird]

If they're 18 and voted, their voices were heard. If they're 18 and didn't vote, they can shut the hell up. If they're under 18, their voices are interesting but irrelevant.

Next!

[VegasCowboy]

That'll show 'em! Nothing effects change like a good sleepover! :)

[RS]

"About 50 students carrying guitars and boxes of crackers and Froot Loops took over part of the library...."

Probably the first time many of them have ever seen the inside of the library...

[Not A Snowbird]

Learn to spell and we'll take you seriously.

That said, why do you say you want a voice in the future? You have a voice, my dear. It's called your vote, once you're 18. That's it. What more do you want?

[itsinthebag]

"This is going to hopefully change that by letting people know that adolescents are there and by saying, 'We're not going to take this. We want a voice, too. We want a place in this democracy. . . . We should have a say.' "

Your parents had a say for you. They voted for sKerry.