Chappaqua Schools to Consider Dumping Trump Over Comments
By Amanda Cronin
Prom. The word represents a bittersweet celebration of the end of our formative teenage years and the beginning of a hopeful future.
For the past five years, Horace Greeley High School seniors and underclassmen have primped and preened for the big night, and then boarded limousines, buses and cars, with GPS devices pointing to the prom party destination: Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor.
However, for the coming year, some Chappaqua residents are questioning the choice of venue.
Three days prior to Greeley Prom 2015, Donald Trump announced his presidential candidacy for the 2016 race. “I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created,” he said. And, in an attempt to garner support, or, as some speculate, intentionally insult fellow candidate Jeb Bush’s emphasis on welcoming the Latino population, Trump delivered this line: “When Mexico sends their people, they’re not sending their best. They’re sending people that have lots of problems. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.”
Ay! Caramba!
These ethnic slights have led to multiple terminated partnerships over the course of the month. Spanish television network Univision was the first to act, announcing that they will not be broadcasting the Miss America and Miss Universe pageants, both co-owned by Trump. Trump is now suing the network for $500 million on the grounds that “[Univision’s] decision was, in reality, a politically motivated attempt to suppress Mr. Trump’s freedom of speech under the First Amendment.” Thousands of impassioned tweeters grabbed their phones and started the hashtag #DumpTrump to keep the movement going.
NBC Universal was next to end their relationship with Trump. The network of Trump’s hit show “The Apprentice,” in which he is famous for mercilessly firing contestants, turned the tables by firing him in a statement released on June 29, “Due to the recent derogatory statements by Donald Trump regarding immigrants, NBC Universal is ending its business relationship with Mr. Trump.” As a result, “The Apprentice,” the Miss America and Miss Universe pageants will no longer air on NBC.
Macy’s was next to dump Trump by ending sales of his 90-plus piece menswear line.
On July 7, the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA) followed with the statement that “the parties mutually agreed that it is in the best interest of all not to conduct the 2015 PGA Grand Slam of Golf at Trump National — Los Angeles.”
The list of companies that are in the process of ending their relationship with Trump continues to lengthen; as of July 10 it includes over 15 major companies.
Now the question has come home. Will Horace Greeley High School be the next domino to fall? Will the two organizations responsible for organizing the Greeley prom and annual Chappaqua schools fundraiser and selecting its venue – Chappaqua Central School District (CCSD) and the Chappaqua School Foundation (CSF) – join the #DumpTrump movement?
Chappaqua mother Haley Ferraro started the conversation. On the same evening of Univision’s announcement, Ferraro posted on a New Castle Facebook group that CCSD and the CSF should consider severing ties given that both the annual Chappaqua school fundraiser and prom are held at Trump National Golf Club.
Immediately thereafter, Chappaqua father Raj Datta started a Change.org petition.
“There are literally hundreds of banquet halls in Westchester County, many of which are swankier and a better value than Trump National. Why would I associate my organization with a brand that has been deserted nationwide by the likes of Macy’s, NBC, and Univision due to Donald Trump’s aggressively racist attitude?” Datta said.
The petition received 25 signatures in less than 24 hours and was declared victorious when Ferraro received an e-mail from Horace Greeley Principal Robert Rhodes. I spoke with Rhodes who said that the student committee and parents and teacher advisors are discussing what they want to do. ”
There have been arguments for choosing a different venue so as to not support Trump financially. Other arguments have been made that while they do not agree with the statements made [by Trump], it is a free speech issue.” Rhodes concluded by saying that, “the school administration does not have a role in choosing the venue and we will respect the decision the group makes.”
CSF President David Gefsky struck a more neutral tone. Gefsky would not confirm whether or not the foundation would reconsider the choice of venue. “CSF is a charitable organization. We are not-for-profit, non-partisan and non-political. We are in the planning stages for the 2016 benefit.”
I asked Ms. Ferraro whether politics has a place in school administration. “No, I do not think politics has any place in our administration, but this is not political,” she said. “I did not ask them to change venues based on Mr. Trump’s political view of immigration policy or his views on same-sex marriage. This is about racism, bigotry and hate, none of which has any place in our schools.”
Now it is your turn to weigh in. Considering Trump’s remarks, should the location of prom and the annual fundraiser be changed? To view the petition and voice your opinion, visit change.org.
Amanda Cronin is entering her junior year at Horace Greeley High School.
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