Steve Gao is one of the most respected students in the entire school. He has been prohibited by school administration from presenting his valedictory speech at graduation, one of the most important and prestegious honors a student can achieve. Steve has been a model student for his four years at East, but unfortunately in the past week or so he has angered teachers and administrators, due to the "offensive" nature of the Cross Country ad in the yearbook. As teammates and fellow runners, we would like the entire team to support Steve in whatever way they feel necessary. It is COMPLETELY UNJUST to bar Steve from giving his speech at graduation. Spread the word about the administration's complete overreaction to the "situation", if it even deserves to be called that.CLICK HERE TO SEE A COPY OF THE AD
[EDIT] A MESSAGE FROM STEVE:
Ok guys. The lowdown is that Dr. O'breza isn't letting me speak at graduation for the minor infraction of the inappropriate ad on page 316 of the yearbook. EVEN if I were completely at fault (which i'm not), the punishment just doesn't fit the crime. My mom said to me, you really find out what kind of person you are when you are in some trouble, because a good person will have people all around supporting him. I'm asking you guys to take the contact information below, send emails to the board members and administrators, make some calls. Comment on what I've done as a student, friend, athlete these few years or just to voice your opinion in objection of this treatment. The goal is basically to flood them with e-mails and calls as a "grass roots" movement if you will to try to sway their opinion before monday's graduation. Also, i'm asking you to send this email to everyone you know in the area to help out. Theres really not that much time so any immediate help would be appreciated.Here's the contact information.jrg419@comcast.net, MegaMolar@aol.com, sbadaracco@hotmail.com, djcohendj@comcast.net, giaccio@aol.com, nrfo@prodigy.net, rjr558@aol.com, mct210@aol.com, ctrubin@aol.com, JOBreza@chclc.org, tbrennan@chclc.org , jgallagher@chclc.org
John Galie, President
Home: 751-6628
jrg419@comcast.netAnne Einhorn, Vice President
Home: 428-6721
MegaMolar@aol.comSusan Badaracco
Home: 428-6219
sbadaracco@hotmail.comDonna Cohen
Home: 424-0983
djcohendj@comcast.netSharon Giaccio
Home: 751-1312
giaccio@aol.comNancy O'Dowd
Home: 428-9427
nrfo@prodigy.netRobert Russo
Home: 424-2155
rjr558@aol.comMark Trentacoste
Home: 751-6474
mct210@aol.comCindy Trubin
Home: 482-0124
ctrubin@aol.comThree-digit extensions are for the main number at Malberg, (856) 429-5600
Dr. Timothy Brennan , Interim Superintendent, x209
Thomas Redmond , Assistant Supt., Business/Board Secretary, x228
James Gallagher , Assistant Supt., Curriculum, Affirmative Action Officer, x210Dr. O'breza: 424-0637 and just leave a voicemail.
Thanks alot guys.
Your Valedictorian,
Steven Gao
50 comments:
thats freaking ridiculous--stick it to the man, steve!!
that sucks
-adler
its a freakin add- whats the big deal- thats a load of crap
what did the ad say?
i forget?
thats crap
i bet russo told them to do this!!! Thats so unfair i hate the school! Fight the power
-anonymouse
anonymouse?
must have been joel
I graduated from CHHSE in "82" and was part of the cross country track team also and what the school is doing is Bull. what about free speech! get a lawyer stay in the media spot-light this will work out in your favor.
Hello, Andy Elkan, fellow XC runner and class of 2002 here. Just read the article in the paper this morning. First, what a shame. We've been wearing those shirts for years and no one has raised an objection. Second, glad to see the valedictorian was an XC runner and had enough time away from the books to develop a sense of humor. Keep fightin' the good fight.
-Andy
This is what happens when you let "Political Correctness" run amock. It's getting to the point where you can't even say the word 'fart' in public for fear of offending some pampered-ass poodle-toting ditz who wouldn't know reality if it bit her on the bum on a Saturday morning. I feel the guys at East should have their say just like that guy who has the sign on Geno's Steaks in South Philly should have his. People need to get themselves a backbone and stop being offended at the slightest word drop or tee shirt or window sign or whatever else. It's what this Country is all about!
KC
CHHSE 79
Drexel 84
The teacher or editor of the yearbook should be the one who takes the blame for the ad...don't they proofread anything prior to the book going to print??
I may not know all the facts but it sounded as though the ad was placed awhile back and accidentally made its way into the book. I don't see why the student should suffer from an error by the editor.
Steve,
I just read the article in the paper. You don't need to be saved. Look at the big picture, the year book was published for your entire team and will never be forgotten. You took responsablity like a man. Your going to Wharton! That speach thats being "taking away" from you from your HIGH SCHOOL is what? 5 minutes of BS. compared to your real life. Don't get caught up in this, I'm sure the Principle is enjoying the last bit of power...think he could get into Wharton?
First Jarrett...now this? Whats up with the school? Freedom of speech man! Doing this to steve is not gonna prove a point to students, its just gonna make things worse. Arm your troops and prepare cause this battle is gonna get messy...
This is the message I will send to the Board of Education, John O'Breza, Bob Hulme, and Jason Russo:
I can understand how the school could become annoyed and upset about the racy nature of the ad. However, it was just that- an ad. It did not represent the school as a whole or even the cross country team, just the 6 boys involved. MAYBE, two or three parents would be offended by the content, and vocalize their displeasure to the school. The fact of the matter is that there are very few people who even read the ad, as ads in the yearbook are more of a personal momento than a public display.
HOWEVER, due to the childish and immature reaction of a teacher at the school who was not willing to accept the ad at face value as teenage play, the ad, that may only have affected two or three people, was brought into the public spotlight. The unbelieveable irony in this is that the teacher who brought attention to the ad was a COACH on the cross country team. This entire fiasco is a huge embarrassment to the team, so I hope that he feels a sense of accomplishment for his original goal of repremanding the young men involved for their actions.
The ad was not a cross country ad, or a cross country issue, but this teacher and subsequently the athletic director, made it a cross country issue. Instead of focusing on the actual content of the ad, the principal and athletic director tried to trap Steve on a technicality, by investigating into whether or not Steve had properly paid for the ad. I can find no other reason to persue this route than simply for the sake of punishing Steve. The principal took a very small issue, and with the goal of making amends for the ad, blasted the school into something that it was not equipped to handle.
By bringing this issue into the spotlight, the administration has made a huge mistake. When all of the facts are revealed and the dust settles, we will see that the parties involved (teacher, athletic director, and principal), have severely EMBARESSED the school, the athletic program, the cross country team, the young men involved, and most of all, themselves. They have made a mockery of graduation, a major milestone in the lives of young students, and will soon feel full reprecussions for it.
Sincerely,
Running in Circles
POLITICS Thats what made their decision to not let you speak~! Who is going to give the vale speech ?? Why else would they wait till the last minute to sensure you this way . Where were the sensures during the school year at the track meets,all this stuff was out in the open for everbody to laugh at .True the add was questionably funny,and i bet they all laughed until POLITICS hit.. Nobody complained while you were winning meets. My son had the same crap happen to him at a banquet!! And the son of a member of the school board got his award everybody there looked at each other like duh what crap.
This is an email sent to the entire school board, and select CHE Adminsitrators:
Members of the School Board and Cherry Hill East Administrators:
As you are undoubtedly aware, Cherry Hill East Valedictorian Steve Gao has been barred from giving his Valedictory speech at graduation. As a representative of the Cherry Hill East Cross Country Team, speaking on behalf of all of my teammates, I implore you to reconsider this decision. Steve has been an exemplary student the past four years, and has demonstrated both his academic excellence and moral integrity throughout this period. Now, days before graduation, Steve has been unjustly punished for placing a harmless ad in the Cherry Hill East Yearbook.
As you sit and ponder the decision that has been made, I remind you to keep the following question in mind: Does the punishment fit the crime? I can say unequivocally and emphatically, the answer to that question is NO. Steve is now forced to receive a punishment possibly harsher than someone who has done drugs, cheated on a test, sabotaged another sports team, or gotten into a fight at school. Steve has done none of these, yet he is now forced to sit idly by as his classmates graduate without a speech from their valedictorian. The ad placed in the yearbook is harmless, buried in a section of other ads that will not be read by the majority of students or their parents. These ads are "personal" and are meant to have a special meaning only for the few people involved with the ad. They are not meant to offend others, and in this case, the ad is not offensive, and will probably not even be read. Many students across the world dream of becoming valedictorian, and giving a valedictory speech to their fellow classmates. Removing this honor from Steve is an utter tragedy, and causes many people to question the ability of the school to pass down fair and applicable punishment. Steve is being lumped in with other hooligans, who could care less whether or not they sit with the rest of their class at graduation, when in fact Steve is now more deserving than ever to represent his class.
The United States Government was founded upon the basic principle that every citizen has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A corollary to this principle, which trumps every other aspect of the government and serves as the backbone to the judicial system, is the question: Have someone's actions impaired someone else's right to life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness. In simple terms, unless someone, namely Steve, has caused direct and measurable harm, which he hasn't, due to the fact that the ad will go unread by the majority of those reading the yearbook, he deserves no punishment.
Sincerely,
Anonymous
I just sent a letter to NBC10.
I'll be hearing back soon.
-rachel madge [MANAGER]
FREE GAO
as the manager of this organization, I, Jesse Herrmann, will fight until the death to see Steve Gao jump this challenging hurdles and make his way to that stage and give that speech! VIVE LA GAO!!!!!
If a caller calls into a radio station and curses on air, should the station 'bleep' out the language, or should they allow it to be broadcasted and then punish the caller for a situation that could have been avoided.
I feel even though the ad was inappropiate, kids will be kids. This sort of punishment isn't entirely necessary. Maybe another form of punishment can be used. I think the best thing is for the school to just ask for a public apology from steve. This would allow him to speak at his graduation, and setlle any problems with the school administration.
- best of luck
Once again East administration attacks their best students. What is needed is not discipline for the valedictorian but the dismissal of the yearbook faculty advisor and the resignation of the principal.
Is this the way to treat a valedictorian? I think not.
I got an email reply from one of them and he said "At this point in time, the Board has no involvement in this matter until and unless the student formally appeals to the Board to overrule the Superintendent."
Way to go Mr. Russo. All your fault.
I can't believe that someone's own coach would be a such a traitor and get him into trouble for such a simple act. I hope you are happy Mr. Russo, because you have done far worse then you ever imagined. I may not be on the team but if i was i sure wouldnt trust you as a coach from then on. Some coach...
BALLS!!! There i said it...is someone gonna arrest me now? I could have meant baseballs or softballs...they can't just attack me for saying that.
Isn't the yearbook supposed to have some sort of review procedure that would censor anything considered inappropriate? So in what way is he responsible for the ad if they knowingly published it?
I've heard of ads getting censored before, so when this cross country ad didn't get censored, naturally, everyone assumed it was fine to print. This is absurd.
as far as i can tell the way the obreza saw things is if he did not do anything he look soft on BALLZ so instead he took the other extreme of being hardon BALLZ.
-Adler
when i talked to Gallagher he kept saying how i didn't know the whole story and how i was missing facts, then i explaind the whole story to him and he stort of shut up, i've heard they will be some sort of meeting tonight to resolve this matter but not sure of details
As a parent I was outraged when I read this AM's C-P article about Mr.Gao. I have sat thru too many mandatory meetings w/Dr. O'B this year with speeches about how "your children should conduct themselves so as not to embarrass CHHSE".Yet the administrations actions are an embarrassment! Instead of your commencement being about all of you surviving and succeeding high school the focus will be on this outrage. might I suggest that in addition to communicating with the administration that you place signs in your car windows indicating "Let Steve Speak" ?
To whoever posted the last thing I thank you. We want all the support we can get in order for them to stop this. We want to hypethetically "drown" them in a flood of letters, phone calls, etc so they will back down on this harsh punishment. Thanks for your support and SAVE STEVE!
As an alum of CHE (2002) and Penn (2006), I am appalled at the way the administration is treating you - but want you to know how much Penn rocks and how they truly value freedom of speech in Philly. Good luck!
That is a message we sent to the Board members and a few administrators.
It saddened us to see the administrators of Cherry Hill High School East barred Steve Gao from delivering this year's valedictorian speech. This drastic action is, it appears, over a sense of humor that differs from their own.
We do not know Steve personally, nor do we know anything about his family, but as parents of a former valedictorian, this is what we have to say to the administrators: you are ruining what otherwise would have very likely be one the most memorable days of their lives. And you are willing to do this in the name of what? Well, it appears that we will not know, because Assistant principal, Mr. Terranova, "has no comment", Interim Superintendent does not want to "comment on a student matter" (!!), while School Board President and Principal O'Breza, well hidden behind the doors of their offices, "could not be reached for comment". At the very least you should have the balls to confront the critics and explain your actions. Shame on you, Dr. O'Breza, shame on you Mr. Terranova, and shame on everybody else who is contributing to this disgrace.
We still hope you will take action and let Steve deliver the speech.
Sincerely,
Malgorzata and Pawel Hitczenko
Nice post Kasia's parents--and keep sending emails to everyone. I was at a graduation party earlier today, and a lot of parents were there--all of whom were appalled by the boards actions-there wasn't a single person who agreed with them. Some of the parents are more pissed off than the kids
It's awesome how everyone is contributing to this, keep up the good work. They can't possibly ignore all of us. I can't believe our school would be so cheap about it. Telling him the friday before graduation. Good job Russo and everyone else who let this happen, we really don't appreciate it.
As someone who had to go through yearbook ads and "censor" them as a staffer, I can guarantee you we let things through that were worse than that. A photo of a bunch of guys in just their boxers was allowed in to the 01-02 yearbook, and no one complained then. Besides, for years, East sports teams have been using slogans with double entendres on team t-shirts without any problems. So if a teacher was doing the complaining, then, I guess he/she has been blind the entire time he/she's been at East.
What's even dumber about the whole yearbook ad thing is that Steve's sister (hi Meiling!) was editor-in-chief of the yearbook for 01-02, and she knows exactly how the process worked for years and what was let through before. That O'Breza and crew thought this was going to blow over or that their "explanation" was going to fly with the Gao family is absolutely laughable. Also laughable is that this ad got CHHSE administrators' panties in a wad. Cheaters were allowed to walk in 02, as were those who were caught smoking in school. East has enough problems; trying to tear down the valedictorian's reputation and good standing is the sort of thing East administrators should not be spending their time on.
Watch them try to take the ads away for next year's yearbook because of O'Breza's stupidity.
-Peggy Yang
CHHSE 02
Eidolon Graduates Section Editor '02
at Graduation it is expected that the applasue be held untill after ever students name has been called. I suggest that when they call Steve's name we all interrupt the ceremony and give him the standing ovation he deserves.
this is all russo's fault...guys i can't trust him anymore. He first cuts jarrett from the team and now he rats out gao. How can we trust him as a coach?
that's why i'm glad i moved out of cherry hill.(class of 83)That town will never change
I second adler's motion. If they won't let him speak, at least give him the respect he deserves.
It's amazing when I graduated from East they actually aloud some student to graduate with us after he tried to blow the school up in 10th grade. Class 83
Let's be real everyone - It's O'Breza's last chance to screw with the Class of 2006 - something he's gotten pretty good at over the past 4 years. If I'm right, which I am, he's messing wit the wroooong class.
Steve, bro, get the gang together - let em know who's boss...
I just thought i'd tell everyone that they are, in fact, letting Steve speak at graduation. So yay, and thanks for your great support.
gao's aloud to speak he just has to do extra credit
i mean community service
Whoever the ADULT was who let the ad in needs a slap on the wrist. Steve has made this school proud for four years, and this off color ad is tamer than the ads my 8 year old watches on tv. In fact, its kind of clever. Steve is already a winner and doesn't need to speak at graduation.
But hmmm, maybe we should all do a little digging and see who on the administrative panel has a pristine past...only those that have never made an off color comment, joke, gesture etc, should be allowed to speak at graduation. Is the principle prepared for us to dig up dirt? Come down to earth my friend, Mr. Holy School Administrator. Does it pain you that Steve is smarter than you, I guess it does. Well, he's off to WHARTON...and you, well,
BUELLER, BUELLER, BUELLER? SO SAD.
three cheers for east distance and steve "ruben 'hurricane' carter" gao, a victim of bureacrats in new jersey who overcame a venal system
hell yeah thats a vocab word
I propose the Cherry Hill High School East dedicates its upcoming season to Mr. Steve "Hurricane" Gao for the tremendous adversity he has had to overcome over the past few days.
Dear everyone,
I would like to start by thanking EVERYONE for all their support, either vocally or emotionally. Honestly, I never would have gotten anywhere w/o all your work in this matter. This truly shows the power of the people. I never expected such a tide of public opinion for me. I am wholeheartedly touched by everyone's support from reading waht you guys have written and hearing from everyone. To be honest, i was a little teary-eyed. I never knew I had so many friends and supporters. This has truly been an enlightening and life changing experience. I am not sure how to thank you all, but this year's valedictory speech, i may have had to work hard in high school to earn this privilege, but it is all of you, who worked hard these past two days to protect that privilege on my behalf and for this, i thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I just hope i am worthy of all your support and hope my speech is deserving of such support. Once again, thank you everyone. It was truly a team effort.
Your valedictorian,
Steven Gao
We did it. We stuck it to the man. And now the school looks so bad to the public.
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