A letter about the Beverly conflict: a student speaks up

Antonia FullerContributorTo Whom It May Concern:I write with hopes of drawing attention to an overlooked aspect of the controversy between Santa Monica High School and Beverly Hills High School. I am not writing to justify any actions on behalf of my fellow Samo students. Rather, I simply request a full assessment of the damage done by both sides in the situation.Yes, it is true that some of my classmates may have reacted in an erratic and uncalled for manner. However, accounts that accuse Santa Monica students of solely initiating the fighting are unlikely and untrue. I cannot condemn the media for capitalizing on a sensational story, but I must point out the motives behind this reporting of the incidents nonetheless.  It’s still the media’s responsibility as a source of news to report on the other side of events in an attempt to remain unbiased.  Many people jumped at the opportunity to cover a story regarding underprivileged students—although, if one does a little research on the wealth gap between Beverly Hills High and Santa Monica High, it is quite evident that the discrepancies are slim—living up to their low expectations.The trend of biased coverage even spread to the the Beverly Hills High newspaper, with an article written by a student (and eyewitness) in which she painted our Norman rivals as calm and unassuming, “doing their own thing, not starting anything” and “looking to leave.” According to the Beverly Highlights website, Samo was alone in initiating the violence -- “100 percent.” The statement that Beverly kids were “doing their own thing” can be misleading. Now, allow me to clarify what “doing their own thing” entails according to an eyewitness from Samo. Beverly kids were heard calling Santa Monica students poor. They were heard mocking our schools poor conditions—and such insults continued after that night over social media and at the basketball rematch on Tuesday night, 2/10. While these hateful words may not justify violence, they do warrant some sort of recognition in the media and by the Beverly Hills High administration and students.I don’t expect punishment, I just expect an equal distribution of blame and accountability. Wealth and superiority may have gone hand-in-hand at one point in history, and at one point perhaps this vilification of an entire school based on its lesser financial status may have been unquestioned. But times have changed and in an age of increased sympathy and awareness, it is more than fair to expect acknowledgement of shared blame, to some extent. If Samo is to be held accountable for their immaturity, the same should be done for the students of Beverly High rather than perpetuate the morphed view that slightly less money means significantly less respect. On behalf of the 20 or so students who terrorized others on the nights of the games, I apologize. However, on behalf of all 3200 misrepresented Samo students, I request an apology in return.Sincerely,Antonia Fuller11th grader, Santa Monica High School