MOVEMENT: Poly students take action against administrative policy.
By Martina Krakora, Staff Writer
As a nod to the Watergate Scandal, the term “Gate-gate” was coined by Poly’s AP Government/Economics teacher, Mr. Cheston Booth, in reference to the closed gate by the 150s building, which caused civil unrest among students. The gate was initially closed due to the administration’s concern for students’ safety. Assistant Principal Mr. Brian Frost explained that this happened because Principal Dr. Michael Roe did not want students crossing three lanes of traffic to get to the parking lot. However, many students, such as Noah Cortez (12), felt this “was not enough of a reason for the gate to be closed.”
After Cortez and many other students were late to classes, sports practices, games, etc., due to the closed gate, Cortez decided to initiate a petition. The petition began on November 5 in an attempt to get the staff to acknowledge student frustration over the issue. Cortez received “over two hundred signatures” within two class periods of starting the petition. Ultimately, the petition attracted the signatures of “around three or four hundred students.” One of its signers, Ben Schectman (12), an AP Government/Economics student in Booth’s first period class, thought the petition “mattered as an exercise in the political rights of young adults.”
This direct confrontation from the students to the staff created a bit of tension, putting Booth in an uncomfortable position, caught in the middle of a student protest. Booth expressed admiration for the students’ action, stating, “I am proud that my students are using what we are talking about in class (initiative petition) to actually make a change in their lives.” However, he refused to take sides on the issue, acknowledging that “everyone responsible for their particular area—whether it be safety, whether it be getting the kids to class on time—is doing the best they can.”
On November 15, Poly’s administration responded to the students’ request and arranged for a supervisor to open the gate during passing periods so that students would be able to use the pathway to get to their classes.