SOUTH BEND — Students and staff spoke out at Washington High School Thursday, after learning that administrators said "no thanks" to a proposed campaign stop by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

It was the talk of the town Thursday, and not just in South Bend. Washington High School was plastered on the front pages of newspapers and websites from Michigan to Chicago and Indianapolis.

And in the hallways of the high school, the subject was the same.

WSBT talked to a group of about a dozen students Thursday afternoon, and asked them if they felt cheated by the South Bend Community School Corporation's decision.

"Absolutely," they all agreed.

"We never got a voice," said sophomore Victoria Mallard. "We never got a say so in our school not being chosen."

"It's not fair how they just pushed us aside," agreed junior Raven Mallard.

"It could have been an amazing experience for people, because it could have opened many people's eyes that aren't used to politics and government," said Jareen Austin, one of a handful of students in the room who will be eligible to vote in the general election later this year. "It would have given us a chance to voice our opinions on something historic."

Even teachers noticed it.

"I think some of them took it personally," said social studies and government teacher Lisa Jarrett. "They have a lot of pride here on the west side. And to have that opportunity rested from them was ... unsettling."

"My government students, 90 percent of them are registered to vote," agreed social studies department head Mary Schmanski. "They were so excited to have the opportunity to meet Senator Clinton. It was just devastating for them."

"They didn't really understand the reasons why," she continued. "And they took it very personally. And it was hard to clarify the reasons why. Then we found out she was coming to Mishawaka [High School], and it was was even more disappointing for them."

It's one reason why Jarrett and Schmanski helped students who wanted to start a petition demanding to know why the decision was made.

Click here to read the petition.

"We want somebody to tell us the truth," said another student. "We just want a real explanation, not a lie."

By 3 p.m., the petition already had nearly 300 signatures. But the students said they still had no answers.

Superintendent Robert Zimmerman refused to speak with WSBT on camera about the decision, but acknowledged in a statement that he was the one who made it after consulting with school board members and administrators.

Click on the link in the Related Content box to read that press release.

Among the reasons listed on the release:

1) This rally was a public event, not a student event.

2) The size and scope of this event could have increased risk to student safety.

3) It has been a long standing practice of the SBCSC not to allow political campaigning during the school day by students, faculty or staff.

But many students and staff don't buy those reasons.

"This school would have been so heavily guarded that nobody would have been able to even get in a fingernail file," said Victoria Mallard.

"This was a learning event," said another student. "For both people in public and students."

But there's something else that had the teens even more upset.

"The worst thing is what people are saying on the Internet about us," said junior Trisha Salinas. "That the reason she can't come is she's not black. Or she doesn't play sports. Or she doesn't play basketball. Or she doesn't carry a gun."

Comments posted anonymously on the Internet have alluded that some think Washington is too run down or dangerous to host a presidential candidate.

"That's the worst," Salinas continued. "Because that's not what our school is about at all."

But some students say they're not going to let any of it get them down, or stop them from learning. That's why they plan to attend Clinton's rally in Mishawaka.

And they'll all be wearing "Panther" green, and carrying the petition to help send a message.

Washington principal George McCullough says students will be excused to attend the speech in Mishawaka, as long as they have a signed note from a parent.

"I don't think [the petition] is going to change anything at all," said Victoria Mallard. "But look at how many people signed this. It's basically saying, we care!"

"We won't let this stop our young minds from expanding," agreed Austin. "We'll create, and learn more about it. Maybe it will even inspire one of us to run for president someday," he said with a smile.

Several students said their teachers have offered them extra credit if they write to administrators, school board members, or candidates to talk about how they feel about the campaign stop decision.

Dr. Zimmerman's statement does say the corporation would have been willing to host a Clinton event after school, but doesn't elaborate beyond that.

South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke also refused to comment on the corporation's decision.