SCHOOL FIGHTS CAMPUS RACISM STUDENTS BAND TOGETHER TO MAKE, SIGN DIVERSITY POSTER.

Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer

VALENCIA - In an powerful stand against accusations that their school harbors racists, Valencia High School students crowded around one recent morning to sign a banner promoting ``Viking Unity.''

The response to accusations from a small group of African-American parents that their children had been attacked and beaten by assailants shouting racist epithets came in signatures on the multicolored banner - one that had to be expanded because it quickly filled up with sentiments such as ``Punks stand against hate,'' ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere'' and ``Don't hate, appreciate. It all starts with you.''

``We're not racist,'' said senior Greg Bono.

The unity effort was a reaction to the parents' complaints - incidents that have resulted in one criminal report under investigation that involved several youths, including some from Valencia High.

``The banner gives them a chance to take a stand against hate and treat each other with respect,'' Principal Paul Priesz said. ``But I've talked to several students and they told me 'I don't need to sign it, it's in my heart.' And I've never seen the stage this integrated.''

Senior Jonathan Bailey, who is African-American, said the situation was blown out of proportion.

``We have little issues, but nothing like it's been portrayed,'' Bailey said. ``At first I thought, why is this about Valencia? They're not big issues.''

Bailey recalled an incident from his sophomore year where a group of white boys swore at him and used a racial slur as he passed them on the way to lunch.

``It was confrontational, but the students involved got expelled,'' he said. ``When I hear something like (a racial slur), it makes me stronger. A word is only a word. If you get called a name, you can go to your principal or counselor who can help you. I'm big enough to hurt someone if I hit back, but I prefer to work through conflicts with student groups.''

Bailey is involved with student body activities and a relatively new group on campus, the All Student Forum, which promotes diversity and working on solutions proactively.

After the accusations were brought to a meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District board, an ad hoc committee was formed that involves subcommittees of different factions - administrators, parents, students, teachers, law enforcement, city and business representatives that met for the first time Feb. 15.

At the request of a Golden Valley High School parent, Superintendent Bob Lee recorded a telephone message that went out to all students' families, asking them to address issues of racism and hatred at home - and to let them know that the district's policy is one of zero tolerance.

``I can only parent so much,'' said Kim Forbes, who teaches the video production class at Valencia and has students working on a project to get the unspoken side of the racism issue.

``It's like a multicultural undercover journal. Kids will talk to other kids. Racism was a problem a couple of years ago, but it has gotten better. Some issues are not resolved, but they're working on them.''

Yetunde Alabi, 17, is president of the Black Student Union on campus. She outlined several outreach projects that the group was sponsoring, including organizing a Black History Month assembly that would feature fashion, history and information on African-American leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. The group also sponsors scholarships and does service projects at Live Oak Elementary School in Castaic.

``It's a step in the right direction,'' said Alabi, whose mother is one of the school's strongest critics on the issue of race relations. ``It's very important for people to band together to accept our differences. We can all learn from each other. And the banner is a positive step, like they're trying to address the situation.''

Alabi, who hopes to become a civil rights attorney, said that she has heard of many racial incidents, but could provide no specifics. ``It would take me 10 years to get into that,'' she said.

Statistically, Valencia has the same percentage of African-American students as Hart and Canyon high schools. Only Golden Valley High exceeds their numbers, with 8 percent of the student body identified as African-American. Overall, the district has a minority population, which includes Latino and Pacific Islanders, of 40 percent.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich is holding a town hall meeting Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the board room of the Hart District office, 21515 Centre Pointe Parkway, at which representatives from the NAACP, the county's Commission on Human Relations and the U.S. Department of Justice will be available for questions.

Involvement in the Hart District's ad hoc committee is also an option for parents and students interested in diversity issues; call Pat Willett at the district office at [phone], Ext. 227, for further information.

Carol Rock, [phone]

carol.rock(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- ran in SAC edition only) Valencia High School students sign a poster Thursday promoting unity in response to recent charges of racism on campus.

(2) To counter claims of racism made by some students and parents, students at Valencia High School wrote their feelings about tolerance and diversity on a big poster on campus last week.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer