O.C. Teen Reporters Find They’re Part of the Story

Calay Hsu, 18, glared at President Clinton’s security officer. The big kid in jeans and a cotton shirt stood his ground against the trim, olive-suited man with a communications earpiece.

Hsu had a media credential to cover Clinton’s visit Thursday like the rest of the press corps at the Old County Courthouse. As an editor of Century High School’s student newspaper, Hsu believed he had a right to the spot on the media risers that he had waited for since 6:50 a.m.

But the security official insisted he move--for the traveling campaign press corps that breezed in nearly three hours later.

The heated confrontation that followed was more than Hsu bargained for when he was invited to join the press corps, and a lesson in the absurdities of daily journalism that he wouldn’t forget.

Santa Ana Unified School District officials had requested media credentials for Hsu and seven other local high school journalists so the students could get a firsthand look at how the campaign press works.

At first, the students had high hopes. Maybe they would shout questions at the president. Maybe, in his post-debate glow, Clinton would shake their hands.

In the end, the students settled for spots on the damp courthouse lawn in front of the media risers, 40 yards away from the presidential podium. They interviewed other reporters who, in turn, interviewed them, and all scribbled in their notebooks at the same time.

Still, they had fun.

Leo Villarreal, 15, has always wanted to be a reporter. His father, a construction worker, likes the idea, but his mother, a homemaker, is afraid he would have to cover wars.

On Thursday, Villarreal decided what he’ll do when he steps down as editor of Valley High School’s Falcon newspaper.

“I just look at them and hope to be there as soon as possible,” said Villarreal, who slicked back his spiky hair for his day with several hundred media members. “Maybe in a couple of years. I see them and I’m like, ‘Oh, wow! How cool they get their stories published!’ ”

The students’ day started before 8 a.m., when they lined up for press credentials. They had only a day or two warning from school officials that they would be covering the president for their campus papers.

Century High School senior Ryan Ramirez said the responsibility was daunting.

“Most of the students aren’t going to read the L.A. Times, I’ll be honest,” he said. “Most will read our paper.”

(For the record, a student poll by Century High School’s Today newspaper shows Clinton leading GOP nominee Bob Dole, 71% to 29%.)

At the courthouse, Hsu and five other students staked out front-row spots on the 5-foot high media risers and clutched pocket cameras.

“It’s big newspapers like the L.A. Times and New York Times--those are the ones that the president talks to,” Hsu said. “I think younger reporters should have the chance to ask questions.”

It was only a few minutes until Clinton’s security officer asked the students to make way for the regular press corps.

Hsu explained that he had gotten up early to secure his spot.

“I’m not moving, no way,” he told the security officer.

“Stand here for the national anthem,” the security officer growled, “and if you’re still here when it’s over, I’m going to get a [Secret Service] agent who will knock you off.”

“Just one?” another student countered hotly.

“One will be more than enough,” the officer snapped, stalking away.

And then Hsu did what any other reporter would do--he chased the security officer down and demanded his name. The officer declined.

The students moved.

“So much for democracy, huh?” Hsu sulked.

Their spirits lifted when the speeches started.

One of them did a double take when Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido Jr. appeared.

“That’s Al Gore?” Valley High School junior Danny Yam asked.

They cheered when the president finally appeared and stood on tiptoes to try to watch over the sea of Clinton-Gore placards.

Afterward, the students said they were impressed with Clinton’s speech and had fun as one-day press corps members.

Yam only had one complaint: “I thought we might have gotten up front.”