FAILS TO MEET RACIAL STANDARD

 

African-American student
gets lesson in democracy

 

Student Caught In Racial Controversy
Flyers Promote White Student For African-American Award
Channel 7 KETV, Omaha   Thursday, January 22, 2004 6:39 AM CST

OMAHA, Neb.—Four Westside High School students are suspended for promoting a white student for an African-American award.

More than 150 flyers were distributed throughout the school Monday. They featured junior Trevor Richards, A South African native who moved to the United States in 1997.

Westside officials say the flyers were were quickly removed because they were inappropriate and insensitive to black students.

Trevor said he is as African as anyone else.

"I had no intent of hurting anyone or offending anyone. I wasn't trying to make a statement. I was just running for the award, but I guess the administration felt differently," Richards said.

Richards was suspended for two days.

Two other students were disciplined for putting up the posters and another student was punished for starting a petition to promote Richards.