Campus Hate Crime Demands Attention

* I write with a great deal of anger, fear and concern regarding the recent racial disturbance that occurred on the Aliso Niguel High School campus (“10 Suspended in Campus Fracas,” May 19). Whatever you want to call it, a hate crime took place--and not just some incident that can be passed off as normal adolescent mischief.

Although I am sickened and outraged that this type of behavior occurred in our “master-planned” community, I am not surprised. The changes have been dramatic with respect to the growth of racial-ethnic diversity and socioeconomic population shifts in South County the past few years. These major changes in the demographics have only exacerbated differences in an increasingly less homogeneous culture.

My question, then, is whether or not Denise Danne, the principal, and the Capistrano Unified School District have a plan of action to address these problems and whether or not it will include educating our students, parents and the community at large.

If not, the well-marketed image of South County as a place where the American Dream still exists will suffer another black eye (along with the county bankruptcy) if racist and intolerant elements in our community are allowed to steal the limelight. This is an issue that should be high on the agenda of every homeowner, local educator, community leader and businessman.

TYSON R. REYES

Aliso Viejo