Niezgodski asks South Bend school board, "What on Earth ... were you thinking?"

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State Rep. David Niezgodksi

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 27, 2008 at 12:55 PM EST

Story Updated: Mar 27, 2008 at 3:08 PM EST

EDITOR'S NOTE: State Rep. David Niezgodksi, a South Bend Democrat, who represents the district including Washington High School, wrote this open letter to South Bend school board members, expressing his disapproval of the decision to not allow presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to speak at Washington High School. The bold face type was Niezgodski's, and in the letter received by The South Bend Tribune.

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South Bend Community School Corporation
Attn: Sheila Bergeron/President

Ms. Bergeron,

What on Earth were you and whichever board members along with you thinking, when you chose to deny the opportunity for young adults within our community the opportunity to meet a former First Lady, current United States Senator and candidate for the President of the United States? Equally upsetting, current Senators and Presidential Candidates Barack Obama and John McCain, have been denied, prior to even having sought the opportunity. Numerous young adults throughout our nation, will for the very first time play a significant role in helping to elect the next President of the United States. It has been forty years since Indiana has had any opportunity to directly influence the outcome of the next person to be seated in the White House.

The energy being displayed by young adults ready to cast their votes for the very first time is truly remarkable. Your opinion; that if one person is allowed to interact in a High School environment would open the flood gates is grossly mistaken. Senators Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain numerous times by rights have chosen a High School environment for their campaigns and have been widely accepted. When I was 13 years old, and the watergate hearings were taking place, we spent many hours watching the hearings during school hours. We had the opportunity to take part in a moment of our history, that future students only would read in history books not yet printed.

You, and those supporting you, having stripped children from the West Side of South Bend of this same opportunity, goes beyond any apparent rationalisation. I am deeply offended by your immensely short-sighted decision. Your further justification that a few members of our community would mix with the Washington High School student body is sorely lacking. Provide for me a time when student/parent interaction has not been wholly encouraged by school systems across this nation.

Your appalling error in judgement goes beyond reason.
I would very much appreciate knowing which members stood for this decision and those that were of sound mind.

Our entire South Bend Community has suffered due to your decision.
I am sure the Mishawaka Community School system is most grateful for your kind gesture towards them.
I will await your response.

Best regards,

David L. Niezgodski
State Representative HD7
4942 Scenic Dr.
South Bend, IN 46619
574-233-9774

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