To the Editor,

On Thursday, Jan. 27, 2008 I read with disbelief an article in the Tecumseh Herald sports section in which sports editor Mickey Alvarado described the interactions of the Adrian High School and Tecumseh High School cheering sections. The two cheering sections, known for their spirited support and witty banter, started with inappropriate chants, and were immediately reprimanded by each school’s administrators.

What I find offensive are the comments and insinuations of your sports editor, Mickey Alvarado. Mr. Alvarado stated in his opening paragraph “there is a line you don’t cross. Everyone, I thought, knew that.” Everyone that is except Mr. Alvarado! Further in the article he wrote as he stood in the Tecumseh section, “I thought for certain that every kid in the opposing stands was going to trample me on their way across the court so they could beat some sense into their hosts, but it didn’t happen. Instead of getting stabbed by the many minorities as I stood there dumbfounded with my Tecumseh Herald hat on and orange shirt to boot, the tension passed and Adrian’s players beat the Indian’s silly on the basketball court.”

The insinuation that Adrian’s ethnic students had malicious intent and possible weapons and his surprise at not being attacked goes well beyond anything the students might have said during the game. The insinuation was published in the Herald and to my knowledge no apology or reprimand of the reporter has taken place. I have great faith that the citizens of Tecumseh do not condone the insinuations or believe as Mr. Alvarado and the Herald do.

As Superintendent of the Adrian Public Schools, I ask that Mr. Alvarado apologizes to the Adrian students for his blatant ethnic insults. As Mr. Alvarado stated in his opening paragraph, “There is a line you don’t cross. Everyone, I thought, knew that.” Everyone that is, except Mr. Alvarado and the Tecumseh Herald.

L.D. Cochran
Superintendent
Adrian Public Schools