THE CHARGER ACCOUNT DESIGN BY BERTINA FAN
Lia Yereslove
11
FEATURE: SCHOOL
Club rush: Changes in club constitution Staff Writer
Spirituality
Beginning on Apr. 22, 2020, a expression or religion. However, SJUSD’s rules enacted to ensure court case ensued between the Judge Kenneth Lee said in the inclusivity within clubs. Article San Jose Unified School District 2-1 ruling that the discriminatory 3.2 states, “Membership in this (SJUSD) and the Fellowship of policies set by the district were club and participation in any Christian Athletes (FCA) club selective, noting that “the district and all activities and programs at Pioneer High School over has not withdrawn recognition of this club shall be open to student rights and free speech of Leland High’s Senior Women’s all students and not restricted principles. The district believed Club, whose members are all in any way other than what is that the FCA was acting specifically stated herein.” WILLIAM HUANG PHOTO discriminatorily towards While the policies were the LGBTQ+ community and set in place for the school’s Gwen Carroll refused to officially recognize clubs, the initial situation Staff Writer their club. This led the created much controversy After being raised Catholic, FCA club to sue the district, throughout the student body. Julie Montgomery, Math turning a high school “My club was not affected Department, had an epiphany disagreement into a long directly, but we altered our at age 25. Her spiritual situation discrimination suit, a ruling policies so that we stay did not satisfy her—something of religious discrimination on away from any limitations was off. It was at this point in the part of the district and of learning about a culture time that she was introduced to eventually a semester-long so we can fully understand Buddhism, thus beginning her postponement of clubs at Students crowd around a club booth during lunch. the heritage and not exclude spiritual journey. SJUSD high schools. female 12th-graders.” He also anyone’s identity and where Montgomery first joined Pioneer High School’s FCA claimed that the district’s decision they are from,” Junior Marcus a Japanese Buddhist group branch was denied official to revoke recognition for the Firoozye, Vice President of the founded by Nichiren Daishonin. recognition by SJUSD in 2019 FCA club was targeted due to its Cultural Awareness Club, said. Later, she entered Tibetan In April 2020, the FCA filed a religious-based views. Other student club leaders Buddhism, where people make lawsuit against the school district. The school was also affected also kept up with the lawsuit. an effort to treat every living Elizabeth Sinclair and Charlotte by the court’s ruling. Club “Our club was not affected thing, from humans to animals Klarke, the plaintiffs and student Rush—a week-long event in by the rules, but the district to insects, as having been one’s leaders of the club, claimed which students can learn about handled the new policies well. I mother in a past life. that the district’s refusal to and join various clubs at the hope no lawsuit regarding any “If you view every other recognize the club was an act of school—never had a set date, but discrimination happens in the person as having been your discrimination and “violated their was postponed from its original future,” Junior Jessica Burriesci, mother, it invokes the idea constitutional rights based on date in early September. Instead, secretary of the Humane that every living thing has their religious beliefs,” according it was held in the week of Jan. Society, said. sacrificed so much just to let to the Mercury News. 17 due to SJUSD’s reevaluation The controversial FCA club you live. Realizing how a person The issue originally arose of its clubs and its non- lawsuit sparked conversations has loved and cared for you when Peter Glasser, a Pioneer discriminatory policies. Club rush throughout SJUSD regarding unconditionally is the first step High School teacher, posted a was delayed as SJUSD lawyers non-discrimination policies to being able to return that copy of the FCA’s Statement established a new constitution as well as students’ rights, compassion, no matter how they of Faith and Statement of and application process for club treat you. With this mindset, Sexual Purity, which stated that recognition in order to ensure I want to be able to fully feel marriage is an act occurring only that all clubs abided by its that compassion for everyone,” between a man and a woman. non-discrimination policies. The Montgomery said. The club also had rules dictating district has justified its decision Montgomery heavily that LGBTQ+ students could by citing the need to ensure a focuses on how she treats other not hold leadership positions, safe and inclusive environment people. She remains aware of causing the district to revoke its for all students, while the FCA every aspect of her life—what recognition of the club, claiming club and its supporters maintain is happening to her, how she the FCA broke the district’s non- that their constitutional rights to reacts, what she says and does. discriminatory policy—the rule freedom of speech and religion “In teacher-student that discrimination based on are being violated. relationships, one must sex, race and religion will not “The process was long, and it simultaneously command be permitted. was hard to have clubs delayed, Leland Digital Art and Design hand respect and show compassion. A verdict in August 2022 but it was an important process out brochures to passerby students. It is especially difficult when by the Ninth Circuit Court to ensure clubs are available for causing a significant amount of faced with a full classroom, of Appeals in San Francisco everyone,” Activities Director controversy and backlash from and I am yet to find a ruled that SJUSD’s decision Meg Walsh said. club representatives. Despite perfect balance between my to refuse to certify the FCA The new policies for clubs the semester-long delay, clubs spirituality and my professional club was an act of religious set by the district are consistent have officially resumed since life,” Montgomery said. discrimination. U.S. District Judge between both middle and high Jan. 17, with many new ones As Montgomery navigates Haywood Gilliam of Oakland schools in the district, according being introduced at the school her spirituality in a school argued that the school district to Walsh. A constitution such as the martial arts setting, she makes sure to pushed a reasonable policy overview was created for all club, the life skills club treat her students with kindness that fostered equal participation the clubs by Walsh, based on and the chess club. and respect. Many people define without limiting freedom of compassion simply as being kind, but she believes it is something much deeper. To her, it also consists of being helpful, directly or indirectly, and using it to make people’s minds more peaceful. “If I could go back to the outset of my personal improvement, I would tell myself, ‘You need to change your selfimportant attitude immediately. The more you hold onto these inflated views of yourself, the more obstacles you create for yourself.’ Every negative thought, no matter how small, will weigh like a boulder if you KENNETH YANG AND QUINCY HAN ART let it fester for enough time,” Montgomery said.
