Guest Editorial by Kennedy Dold

This is no longer a rivalry. The first shots have been fired and the powder keg stuffed in 1997 with the opening of Free State High School has officially been lit. Lawrence, Kan., is in the midst of a civil war.

Lawrence High School and Lawrence Free State High School have participated in hate crimes and vandalism disguised as pranks. The first occurred the evening of Sept. 17 at Lawrence High when five Free State students sprayed a phallic symbol, “School of [N-words],” “You’re Poor!” and “82% Graduation” in the center of the football field. The vandalism was discovered Thursday morning. Nothing was officially said to LHS students until Friday evening at the Free State vs. LHS football game. This lack of communication created false stories, causing confusion, frustration and even anger.

The second act of vandalism occurred Sept. 21, when someone (culprits still yet to be made public) vandalized a First Student bus with “F*** Free State” and “School of Crackers.” Even “F*** LHS” was reported to be on the bus, sparking really interesting debates about the mindset of the culprits.
Both schools erupted over social media with blame and insults being thrown by both sides. Factions have developed, and students from both schools are being called racists, elitists, etc.

These events are rooted in racism that has been allowed to permeate our society. There is no excuse for the use of the N-word on the field. As much as some might argue otherwise, the word “cracker” is not comparable. The fact we are able to say “cracker” but choose to censor “the N-word” proves that point.

However, I am not here today to talk to you about racism. I am here to talk to you about the root of the rivalry problem: the use of socio-economic class status as a means of ridicule, mockery and a source of these so-called pranks.

As of 2012, 23 percent of Lawrence residents lived below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The 15th Street dividing line that separates the two schools has a larger number of disadvantaged families living on the LHS side. New city housing developments in Lawrence show that larger houses bringing richer families with larger incomes and are being built in neighborhoods on the Free State side of the line.

As of 2014, 40 percent of Lawrence High students participated in the free- or reduced-price lunch program. Only 29 percent of Free State students took part. Up front, there appears to be a huge gap between the schools that fuels the outlook of “rich vs. poor.” However, in the free lunch program alone, the numbers are much closer with 30.86 percent at LHS and 23.45 percent at Free State.

So what do we have? First and foremost, there is a disparity, even if a close one. There also is the perception of a disparity that to both student bodies is having a negative effect on their pride in their schools and their pride of themselves.

Looking past the numbers, we can see the disparities between the two schools by looking at their facilities. One school has outdoor locker rooms, fully-insulated outdoor bathrooms with electric dryers, and a fully-functioning film room at their new football facility. The other school had to fight hard to even get a second bathroom at their football field. The cause of this disparity? One could argue that one school had more donations for these facilities, they have better PTO committees, more backers, etc. But, where do donations come from? They come from families, alumni and sponsors with more income who can afford to give money away.

This is our problem. We have huge monetary divisions between two schools no more than 10 minutes apart — maybe 20 with road construction. We have two student bodies with one viewed as the “haves” and the other as the “haves-not.”

This is not something that started with the “You’re Poor!” vandalism. Mockery of socio-economic class between the two schools has been a problem for years. Last year, many Free State students bought an unsanctioned T-shirt that read, “LHS: where the peasants go.” These T-shirts, along with peasant costumes were worn to the 2013 LHS vs. Free State football game. It might be added that the T-shirt is still frequently worn around Lawrence with most of the wearers still viewing it as a joke and not a form of discrimination.

Let me get this straight: Those shirts were a form of mockery solely based on how much money someone makes.

USD 497 says it does not tolerate bullying. The United States Government has federal laws prohibiting hate crimes and discrimination. Moreover, we as citizens have a moral obligation to not discriminate against socio-economic status. Lawrence was a city founded by people fighting for human rights. The actions taken over the last month have not only shamed ourselves and our schools, but our history and tradition.