Would white student be treated this way?

The Daily Herald carried a front page story about a young man, black, who was denied a place on the ballot for his high school class presidency because two unnamed "sponsors" would not allow it. No reason was given.

The young man then organized a write-in campaign, which even the principal says he probably won, but the principal refused to count the write-in ballots. By the way, the young man's father was serving as a lieutenant colonel in Iraq and his mother had heart surgery while all this was going on.

The principal's comment: He says that he hopes the young man stays involved by "taking a committee leadership role that matches his skills better."

What an insulting thing to say about a young man who was not only clearly the favorite of his (mostly white) classmates, but organized a successful write-in campaign. Would this have happened to a young white man in Naperville?

At a minimum, the principal and the two unnamed "sponsors" need sensitivity training. More likely they need to lose their jobs. "Feedback was direct, clear, and brutally honest" does not sound like a mentoring relationship, but an adversarial relationship.

The principal, Bob McBride, and the two "sponsors" are supposedly the adults here. And yet young Rodney Boyd, Jr.'s comments and actions reflect maturity and thoughtfulness and courage, while those of the adults involved reflect pettiness and dismissiveness.

I hope that a investigation into this incident will stimulate some soul searching in District 204. This is an opportunity to improve. I also, hope that along the way, some justice is give to Rodney Boyd by either counting the write in ballots (and shame on Mr. McBride if they have been destroyed) or redoing the election in early September.

Jackie Buehring

Naperville