Dear The Point Staff, Mr. Mirosavich and Fellow Sea Kings,
After reading the article titled Red Tide Reborn? I felt an overwhelming responsibility to share how much Palos Verdes High School has meant to me and to clarify some inaccuracies. I have had the unique opportunity of observing the Red Tide for not just the past four years, but since I was in the first grade when I started attending football games and was more concerned with running on the sidelines or playing in the makeshift sand box, also known as the long jump pit. I have watched for 8 years and participated in Red Tide for the past 4 years. I can say without a doubt that our cheering section is the envy of every school in the South Bay and agree whole heartedly with the author that this is “a beautiful binding force that pulls all types of students together”.
In fact, Red Tide has become more inclusive than ever in recent years. When I was a freshman, we cautiously sat next to the Red Tide, intimidated to join and sit in the actual Red Tide section. Now it is expected that once you start PV High you will sit in the Red Tide section from day one! If you look in that sea of red you will find students from every organization on campus represented. Red Tide is truly the common ground for our student body, and the heart and soul of Palos Verdes High School.
Unlike it is stated in the article, The Associated Student Body and Red Tide share no direct affiliation other than the fact that ASB overseas its charter as it does with all other clubs on campus. ASB is proud of the work Red Tide has done and is equally proud of all the amazing clubs and organizations we have on campus. We are lucky to be part of a school that really offers something for just about everyone and personally I value and respect all our campus organizations and would do anything in my power to support them. I think it’s time we start to celebrate each other and not tear each other apart. In the article the Associated Student Body is described as an organization that “objectifies women to pieces of meat” as well as “degrading” and even “embarrassing”. As the President of Palos Verdes Associated Student Body I believe these words to be hurtful and inaccurate. We are composed of 50 imperfect students. We are kids, we make mistakes. The article left out the fact that ASB apologized to The Zoo and was forgiven and thanked for admitting our mistake and fixing the problem ourselves. In my four years as a member of ASB I have never felt embarrassed of my school and I will continue to feel copious amounts of pride for Palos Verdes ASB as I graduate and start a new chapter of my life.
The article in question, in my opinion portrays the five presidents and the hundreds of members of Red Tide as an “intoxicated, racist, obnoxious” student body negatively representing our school as a “party school” with the full support of the ASB. The article didn’t come right out and say this, but it is strongly implied and this was definitely the impression I was left with after reading it. Having the advantage of knowing these young men and working with them through ASB, as well as attending the football and basketball games I know this is inaccurate and exaggerated to say the least. Someone, however, who just picks this article up with no hands on experience attending these events could walk away with a very distorted view. The article even uses the word “dangerous” when describing Red Tide. Dangerous? Really? In what way? Perhaps a particle of confetti or baby powder may fly into your eye? Or maybe one may strain their neck while looking in the sky for a fly over banner sponsored by Red Tide?
I am certainly not saying the Red Tide is perfect by any means. How can it be? We are talking about hundreds of students. How can anyone, let alone five young men be responsible for the individual behavior of hundreds of high school students? But let’s not judge an entire group and the leaders charged with this awesome responsibility by the behavior of a few bad apples. In my opinion, the five presidents have done an amazing job keeping things positive at games, raising money for charity, meeting with the Zoo to forge a better relationship and making the largest club on campus a source of pride for all Sea Kings. They have demonstrated tremendous leadership, responsibility and have worked hard to cast our school in a positive light. Linking their names with such negative stereotypes is irresponsible, inaccurate and damaging to their reputation. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Alex Boehm, Mitchell Templin, Grant Korn, Harrison MacLean and Stanton Gilbertson for an amazing year and for the time and dedication it takes to look after this honored Sea King tradition known as Red Tide.
I am proud to call myself Palos Verdes High School’s Associated Student Body President as well as a member of The Red Tide. As I will be graduating this year I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of my life these last 4 years. Thank you Sea King family, Tridents Up and Roll Tide!
Hannah Stapleton
ASB President