Colorado & Denver News

HENDERSON, Colo. (CBS4) ― Students at Prairie View High School aren't laughing at a school newspaper article that was supposed to be funny.

The article "Alien Immigration Attracts Attention" was written by a student at the Adams County high school. It's about a group from outer space that takes American jobs, doesn't pay taxes and speaks no English.

Approximately 51 percent of the student body at Prairie View High School in the Brighton 27J School District is Hispanic. Some students said that's just one of many reasons why an article on aliens was racist. They said the message was derogatory and directed at Hispanics who attend Prairie View.

"It hurt all our feelings," one Prairie View student told CBS4.

The article said the aliens, from "planet Zarcon," "don't speak English and don't have a magenta card (the new government-issued residency permit card)."

"We thought (the article was referring to) a green card for Mexicans, so that was a real big offensive thing," another student said.

The article goes on say the aliens "pay no taxes and take away legitimate American citizens' jobs." The student writer argues that the aliens should be deported.

"I guess the guy didn't mean to write it that way or mean for it to be offensive, but it turned out that way," another student said.

Christopher Cervelloni, the teacher who supervised the school newspaper and was responsible for proofreading the articles, resigned unexpectantly this week. Students say he was a popular English teacher.

The student writer has not spoken publicly about the article.

Prairie View High School's principal called the article inappropriate. He has met with the students who are upset and said everyone is encouraged to write letters to the editor in the next edition of the student newspaper.

The newspaper was supposed to be the April Fools' Day edition, but it didn't come out until last Friday. It contained many silly articles, including a ficticious crime spree on Sesame Street and how teachers are addicted to donuts.

Viewer Comments

Here are some comments we received from viewers about the article:

From Michael in Commerce City: "I don't see any problems for someone telling the truth even if it hurts the ones its being told about. Referring to the story on Students Upset Over 'Alien Immigration' Article. If they don't like the truth then they should do the right thing and go back to Mexico. ... I give the writer to the article an ata boy. We need more people speaking out like that."



From Makayla Kelley, who identified herself as a PVHS student: "Once the paper went out it did raise a lot of attention. We held a meeting for him to apologize to all the students it offended. He said sorry but they were completely disrespectful, calling him vulgar names and such. He said it was never meant to hurt anyone's feelings and had nothing to do about "Mexican" students."

From Bonnie in Dillon: "So the ILLEGAL immigrants at the school are angry about the truth!! That's too bad. I don't care if ILLEGALS are pink; green; or purple. If you are an illegal; not paying taxes; using our healthcare system and educational system with a free-ride; then my taxpayer dollars are supporting you. That's not fair."

From Krista who identified herself as a PVHS student: "The only reason this article has become such a blown out of proportion issue is because Hispanics make up more than half our student population yet they consider themselves the minority in the surrounding community which is not true. If you look at our cross town rival, Brighton High School, the vast majority of their student population is also Hispanic as well as the city's population. Why should they be so offended? The author of the article themselves is even partially Hispanic."

From Elva in Littleton: "How quick you are to broadcast the story about the high school kid that wrote the article about the illegals affect on OUR country. Their feelings are hurt??? Well so are mine. I am a 68 year old CITIZEN. My feelings are hurt when I look at what the influx of illegals have done to OUR country."

From Samantha in Estes Park: "I am an editor on my high school newspaper and despite what people are saying this article is not representative of what free speech is all about. Any newspaper is not allowed to slander any person or group at any time. Doing so violates the policy of a newspaper."

From Jenia who identified herself as a PVHS student: "The newspaper staff did not mean to hurt anyone's feelings by this. It was a joke… People need to grow up and have an imagination. The aliens are from a fantasy planet!"

From Tobias in Denver: "This scares me when censorship happens here in America… Being here illegally is a crime and we as Americans should never be stopped or censored about talking on this problem."

From Jeanette in Denver: "From everything I have heard, this article did not reference the people born here or living and working in this country legally… I think this has been blown out of proportion and people have been made to feel that their thoughts and opinions are not allowed to be expressed."

From Jordan in Brighton: "I had Mr. Cervellonni as my English teacher. I would like to tell everyone that he was a really good man and a great teacher. I learned so much from his class that I will use through the rest of my life."

From James in Lafayette: "If Ward Churchill can say what he said and have his rights protected, then this teacher and student should receive the same deference."

From Kathy in Northglenn: "I think once we start thinking discrimination is a laughing matter we will never get past the hate that is rampant in this country."

From Teri in Greeley: "These are children writing these articles. They aren't old enough to drive, vote, drink. They are not adults and I don't think an April Fools assignment should be taken this far!"

From Michael in Denver: "I honestly don't see a problem with the article from the Prairie View student… The article is obviously written as a sci-fi piece. Instead of taking note of the author's creativity he is condemned for what some people think it was about."

From Darlene in Westminster: "The article about immigration written by the high school student is only offending a certain population. Perhaps they have "earned" the right to be offended? There is no problem with immigration; the problem lies in ILLEGAL immigration."

From Kyle in Denver: "The teacher didn't need to resign. I fear that we're missing an opportunity to have open, honest discussions about immigration."

From Carol in Denver: "The school should foster real debate on this issue and not cave to claims of racism. It is not racist to be concerned about people breaking our laws and coming into this country illegally, no matter where they are from."

(© MMIX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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