Editor, Manteca Bulletin

I was extremely disappointed with the lack of balance in Rose Albano Risso’s report titled “Weston Ranch High racism?.” In my opinion, it came across mostly as a hit piece designed to help stir up the growing racial divide in this country. The vast majority of the article quoted political activist Trustee Ashley Drain’s version of the Dec. 5 encounter between an African American student/athlete and a white female custodian in a bathroom at the high school. According to Drain, the custodian was disrespectful to the student in question, and ultimately prompted the student into calling the custodian a b---h. A female African 

American youth calling an older female custodian a b---h certainly was disrespectful on the part of that student, who was suspended for 5 days for her actions. Drain maintains the student’s suspension was excessive because of racism on the part of the school’s administrators. What’s missing from this report is any semblance of detail covering the other side of the story, except for briefly quoting Deputy Superintendent Clark Burke’s measured politically correct response to the racial allegation. 

Even though there were three other girls in the bathroom at the time of the incident, none of them were interviewed to get their side of the story. Apparently, neither was the custodian interviewed to get her version of what went down in that bathroom. The article goes to great length in promoting Drain’s one-sided version, including her allegations that she had a prior “first- hand experience with that custodian and many of the people in administration.” Drain goes on to say “it was like watching a circus act where the animals are poked and prodded into submission — and the office administration (staff) are horrible with how they treat and talk to their students.” Drain accused Principal Jose Fregoso of racism by stating he is “apathetic to the plight of the school’s minority students.” Drain further stated “They want me to be this angry woman, and I am not.” Her comments and accusations certainly come across as a person who, at the very least, is distrustful, if not angry with the current administration at Weston Ranch High. Whether that anger is based in fact remains to be seen.

In the future, I would hope that the reporters on the staff of the Bulletin make a better effort to provide balanced reporting, even if it delays getting the story out. This report appeared to be rushed to meet a publication date with little effort made to get both sides of the story. I have no idea if racism is prevalent at Weston Ranch High, but in my opinion, Risso’s report certainly tends to fuel the fire as opposed to providing a complete accounting of what actually happened.

Robert Teglia

Manteca