The ASB of San Benito High School has recently proposed to change the name of the school to Hollister High School.  After much discussion with several other students who attend San Benito High School, they disagree with the proposal. Changing the traditional name would ignore the input of not only the entire student body, but the community as a whole, and ignore more pressing concerns of students currently attending San Benito High School.

            The proposal to change the name of the school stemmed from the wishes of a small group of ASB to begin naming the school as “Hollister High School.” Instead of asking for the input of the students, ASB decided to move forward with the proposal to the board and superintendent. They did not take into consideration the wishes or opinions of the students. Whether students agree or disagree with the name change, this demonstrates a lack of democracy within our school. A general consensus would have been appreciated to reflect the opinions of the students who attend San Benito High School. The proposal also disregards the opinion of the community because the school’s current name, San Benito High School, is not only a symbol of pride to Hollister, but to San Benito County and neighboring districts. San Benito High School has always been and will continue to be a historic name and symbol of the community.

            Changing the name of the school ignores the concerns of the students because it demonstrates that changing the school’s name is the most pressing “issue” at San Benito High School. While ASB leadership is more focused on a name change, they fail to focus on more concerning issues like safety and lack of access to food at lunchtime.  There are students who are experiencing harassment, yet their complaints go unnoticed. The increased number of fights at school create an unsafe environment for everyone. Students who receive lunch from the school are waiting in lines for their entire lunch period before they can eat. Some are even late to class due to the lack of food stations around the school. Other students have voiced their concerns about the unsanitary conditions of the restrooms on campus and have asked for basic necessities such as soap and mirrors. However, these requests have also gone unanswered. Our student congress meetings are supposed to hear our concerns and take action, yet every week we are voicing the same concerns since no changes have been made. Action must be taken on more pressing items; not a school name change that has not been shared with the entire student body to discuss as a whole.

            For these reasons, we ask the San Benito High School Board of Trustees and the superintendent of San Benito High School to please reconsider the name change proposed by ASB. If the name of the school changes, this would demonstrate the school’s lack of democracy and regard for the voices and concerns of its students. Let’s shed light on more pressing issues that desperately need to be addressed at San Benito High School as well as inspire students to speak up and prioritize serious issues that concern them.