Thread: Trustees to speak with high schoolers on immigration

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Trustees to speak with high schoolers on immigration, possible racial tensions

Randall Larkinwright, a senior at Hug High, calls himself a "peacemaker." So, he tries to avoid conversations about illegal immigration at school.

"I am partly of African-American descent, and I get along with everybody," Larkinwright said. "But now, since this issue has come up, everything is kind of different. It's not like you can see it, but you can feel the awkwardness."

It's an emotional subject at a school where 53 percent of students are Hispanic, even though most Hug students chose to stay in school rather than march during recent immigration demonstrations.

Larkinwright and other Hug students said that talking about immigration issues has become the new taboo, replacing sexual preference as a subject that is a conversation stopper and a fight starter.

"It is an issue I do not feel comfortable bringing up," Larkinwright said. "I'm worried about how they might feel about it. I don't want to upset anyone in any way. If there is tension, something bad could come out of it."

School officials know immigration is a hot-button issue in student populations across the district. So tonight, trustees will hold a roundtable discussion with students from area high schools to talk about immigration and any racial tensions that might be bubbling just below the surface.

"All you have to do is look at all the letters to the editor" in the newspaper, Superintendent Paul Dugan said. "It has been a hot topic in this community. People have strong feelings about this, so it is not surprising that many students have strong feelings as well."

Some Hispanic students at Hug said they felt a solidarity with their white and black classmates when it came to immigration. Most of the students were very supportive during the recent wave of demonstrations, senior Juan Ramirez said.

"Everybody is together," Ramirez said. "The African-American and white students were all very supportive, and we support them. There were no racial problems whatsoever."

Many Hug students praised Principal Andy Kelly for keeping the peace at Reno's most culturally diverse school, with enrollment at 76 minority.

Most of the school's Hispanic students chose not to march during school hours, saying school administrators convinced them it would be better to go to class, Ramirez said.

"Your education is the most important thing," said Ramirez, who plans to study electrical engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno next year. "You could leave, but you wouldn't be learning anything."

Silence is the best way to avoid trouble, said Hug senior Rachael Bradfield, 18.

"With the whole immigration issue, the only time it is a real issue and there is tension in the air is when people try to talk about it," Bradfield said.

Most of the students are tolerant of others' points of view, Hug junior Laura Lovett, 16, said.

"Kids in our generation, they accept people for who they are, even though there are some who are taught to hate," Lovett said. "But that is their own family's fault. You're not born to hate."

The bubbling tensions that district officials fear are nationwide, students at other schools said.

"This issue of immigration is a sleeping giant all over the nation and Reno High is no exception," said Reno High senior Ari Bennett.

"Silence is the best way to avoid trouble, said Hug senior Rachael Bradfield, 18. "

Oh gee, look, another set of parents creating a time bomb... wonderful.