June 2020

To whom it may concern — since it seems as if no one is genuinely worried about this matter: 

         I am writing on behalf of many lovely Sweetwater High School Alumni. You all should have been expecting this message, an effort towards “productive conversation”. We appreciate your efforts to “help” all of us throughout the years and now, we ask again as alumni, for your help in making your campus a safer place for young women and femme-identifying people. I feel this is reasonable, considering young teenagers are expected to seek “counseling”, guidance, and help on issues they face through their time in high school. We fairly comprehend that we all have our differences, but if there is one thing we can agree on, it is that for some reason, not all of your students feel comfortable with going to the counseling center for guidance. Respectfully, you can discuss amongst yourselves why. And honestly, how do you expect them to when there is evidence to suggest that their voices have not been heard since 2014? I would assume that you were all supposed to be trained to be able to “give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems”, so where were you when young ladies were speaking out about Santamaria’s questionable and pedophilic behavior? You can argue that “nobody came to us”, but if you are actively seeing these things being posted on Twitter, why haven’t you done your part to reach out? Have you really, truly done all you can to make the counseling center a welcoming, safe place for victims? Or were you too busy revelling over the latest gossip during your multiple lunch breaks?

         Assuming you are all aware of the tweets about how many girls have been harrassed and made uncomfortable by one of your very own, why have you chosen to stay silent? Is it really fair to your students that they have to reach out to you first? Despite the fact that it is your job to be there for your students? If my facts are fairly accurate (feel free to enlighten me on the matter), Gerardo Santamaria has been working at Sweetwater High School since 2014. He stepped away for a time and later returned in 2016-2017 and has been a staff member since then. A staff member at the place we sing of our hearts living in.  Sweetwater High School. Once a Devil, always a Devil right? I suppose to you all, considering your inaction, it’s once a devil, always a devil — pedophilic behaviors and all. This is an embarrassment to SUHi community... is he representative of what it means to be a Red Devil?

 

         It has been brought to SUHi alumni’s attention that your attendance coordinator has displayed very unprofessional behavior, to say the least. Many young women have been wondering why certain girls have gotten out of the “non-privilege” list so randomly, with no effort to clear any absences. Other young women spoke out on how Santamaria disturbingly asked many girls for sexual favors in exchange for removal from the NPL or removal of absences — even going so far as to threatening some students of not being able to participate in senior activities unless they engaged with him. Some have spoken on hearing inappropriate comments from him or getting dirty looks. Many young women are afraid to come forward and speak on this matter, which is reasonable, since experiencing that in itself is traumatic enough. Which is why a number of alumni have taken it upon themselves to be a voice for them. Gerardo Santamaria has been around for quite some time now. Regardless of when he was engaging in this type of behavior, the bottom line is that he was engaging in this behavior in the first place. This is absolutely disgusting and unreal how many years had to pass in order for this matter to be brought to light. Even more disgusting and unreal how long young women have been hushed into silence — some of your staff have engaged in conversations with current students talking about how they know of his behaviors; yet nothing has been done. Unacceptable. 

         As I quote one of the young ladies that spoke out about this matter, I would like whoever is reading this to be encouraged to stand up for what is right. Also counselors,, take your own advice and help your students have a voice that is for once, finally, heard. There are too many stories several young women have shared about this. Please forgive any vulgar language for the sake of keeping the anonymous comments in their original state. 

“this one time when i went to go to the attendance office bc i came in late n he would always tell me that i look good n he always look at my body instead of listening to me when i was asking him for sum” — Anonymous 

“i was on the NPL my senior year & ineligible for senior activities, but there was hella girls who “mysteriously” got off the list, so when i had to go visit his office for him to clear me to walk, i asked if I could be removed too. this nasty fuck said “what do i get out of it… i said “the pleasure of knowing you helped me partake in senior activities” this man deadass said “fuck that, i want a blowjob.” Y’ALL. i hopped tf up and said “nvm, thank you” and left so fucking quick. i never went back to his office” — Anonymous 

“just wanted to reach out and say when i was also getting cleared from the non-privileged list to be able to go to prom, Santa Maria told me that i could only go to prom if “i saved him a dance” & proceeded to ask “what’s in it for me?” when it happened i thought maybe it was just me or maybe i took his “joke” the wrong way so i brushed it off but now seeing all these girls come out i know it wasn’t just me and who knows how many other countless girls who may not have twitter, may not have seen the tweets, or who are scared to speak up were also a victim of him. i hope my story helps.” — Anonymous, Class of 2018

“I wanted to come forward with my story in case it helps someone to speak up, is what matters. Well basically I had to get if the non privileged list and I went to Santamaría and I told him that I had over 32 period absences or something like that I probably had more, the case is that he deleted all of it! And I had no idea why, he was just like “ well now you are good, you can walk” and I was so excited because I mean I wanted to walked and I was like, “ thank you so much! I can’t thank you enough.” He then said, “ I know you’ll find a way to thank me.” Then he wink at me. I laughed nervously and left. I felt really uncomfortable and uneasy but I thought I was exaggerating. But I felt so fucking uncomfortable. And I know it affected me in some way because this is the second time that I tried to write this text. That incident trigger a lot in me. This might be a small situation but if it helps or if you need people to come forward I will.” - Anonymous 

         If there was one thing we all learned from our time at SUHi, is to speak up for what is right! And that is what you see your alumni doing! Therefore, I would like to offer you an opportunity to stand with us — not through words but through action. Stand up for what is right. Let our voices be heard, it is time for change. Please feel free to email us back on this topic. Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely, 

A Concerned Sweetwater High School Alumni.