Dear Matthew Patulski,

My name is Caroline Kuiper. I am sure you do not know me, since I was not in attendance at the football game after which you have made such a name for yourself.

But I have heard about you.

I am a graduate of Forest Hills Central High School, and a proud alum of the school which you not-so-discreetly called out as racist (among other things) in your open letter to my home district. Upon seeing our students with a colonial flag in addition to a Trump flag, all decked out in red, white and blue, your statement towards our school has brought a sort of cloud over our school which has resulted in unnecessary trouble for all. In addition, in light of recent events, the OK Conference (that FHC is a part of) is also enforcing new rules stating that no USA chant except after the national anthem at athletic events is to be allowed.

With this is mind, whether you meant to or not, you have given our school a negative connotation and brought heat to our school from other outsiders who, like you, do not know the full story. I am sure your intentions were good, but that being said, I would like to clarify what I believe I, my high school, and the rest of our community is feeling in this time of chaos for the Forest Hills Area.

Our annual USA themed game, placed strategically around the time of 9/11, is not about white supremacy. It is about celebrating a country to which ALL of us belong. I cannot lie and say that our school does not have a predominantly white population; to say anything else would be both naïve and a lie. But to accuse an entire high school of racism, such as Briana Urena-Ravelo did when she read your letter and subsequently agreed by saying that “You can’t deny the overt, intentional racism and intimidation" of our student body is absolutely absurd.

You might not believe this by simply sitting on the opposite side of the field as our student section on a Friday night, but our school is committed to celebrating diversity. To begin, our GLI and Diversity clubs strive in everything they do to involve our school in events (in addition to putting some on themselves) dedicated to making everyone in our school feel like they have a place and feel at home. Our school is a place of open discussion concerning race, politics, rights, and so much more for those who want to participate. How do I know this? Ask me about the nights I sat in my Model UN class debating the prejudices against women in the world. Ask me about the hours I spent in my APUSH class discussing the rights of African Americans throughout history and what that means for modern times. Ask me about the political discussions I had in my AP Literature class because we wanted to give everyone a voice and genuinely listen to different points of view. Ask me about the annual Diversity Week at our school which ends with a fair to celebrate all races and cultures from all over the world. Because our school is an inclusive place for people of ALL sorts of different backgrounds and beliefs, not just racial.

Coming from a military family, I am well aware of the rights we have as citizens because my father goes to protect them for you and I, along with the rest of the country. Our USA chants are meant to symbolize pride for our country, the one that we share as a whole, including Trump supporters, Clinton supporters and everyone in between.

Our school may lean one way politically, which is inevitable considering that almost every single one in America does one way or the other. The fact that some of our students chose to acknowledge this fact with their Trump flag does not mean that does not mean that we are a school full of the stereotypes that come to your mind when you think of him. Nor does it mean that the colonial flag meant anything more than to symbolize where we came from as a country. Simply because nobody showed up to the game with a Clinton flag in tow does not believe that her support is nonexistent at our school, or that our student body is racist. Her flag would have been welcomed right alongside the other ones, and all could have waved together in a symbol of unity that exemplifies what FHC stands for.

I earlier commented that I was a recent graduate of Forest Hills Central High School, a label I still wear with pride. What I did not tell you is that I am now a student at the University of Alabama, and I can only assume the images that just came to your head. Unfortunately, some of them have validity, as the South is undeniably a different culture than other parts of the country and the world. I have now seen the issue of race in a whole new light; and, I can assure you, you would see my school in a very different light if you came to visit me. However, that does not make this great University or part of the country any less of a place than anywhere else, including Forest Hills Central in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I don't mean for this to come across in a rude or cocky way, Mr. Patulski (and those who agree with him). I simply mean to show that I provide the proper credentials to show you why the reputation you have given our school is wrongly deserved. I am sure you will look at this letter and think you know a lot about me, but you are going to be wrong again, I am almost sure of it. I do not get involved in politics or political debates or almost anything of this nature, but this is where I take a stand. Our Friday nights at FHC do not consist of showing up to football games thinking of how we can make others feel like anything lesser than. Our student body and faculty is a community waiting with open arms for anyone who would like to join the family, no matter who you are. I appreciate that you have used your freedom of speech to express your concerns, since that is what the America we live in is all about, no matter where we stand on the political spectrum. But to cut to the chase, I would simply like to inform you that just because my school has exercised its freedom of speech does not mean that you can accuse us of an injustice that never occurred.

Sincerely,

Caroline Kuiper, FHC 2016