Maple leaves falling from oak trees. Students found unconscious with hockey stick shaped wounds in their foreheads. Graffiti seen all over campus that reads "no half sends". Shreds of Berkeley High t-shirts and hoodies found burnt to pieces. What could all this mean?
On Monday, May 8, red and white dressed students were seen entering the Berkeley High campus. Students' confusion surrounding this was quickly released at lunch as the red and white clad students could be seen filing onto the football field of Jacket Stadium forming the flag of the Great White North. Surprisingly enough, no repercussions, or even acknowledgement of this event came from BHS faculty. But why are these trained professionals, whose purpose is to ensure the wellbeing of students, acting so ignorant to this detrimental annexation? And why Berkeley High?
There could be a number of factors at play, including political, social, or economic motivations. For example, Canada may be interested in building relationships with educational institutions in California, given the state's prominence in the tech industry and the large number of international students enrolled in its schools. Berkeley High School, with its history of academic excellence and strong reputation, could be seen as a desirable target for Canadian outreach.
It is important to note however, that any targeting of a specific high school by a foreign entity would raise serious concerns about privacy and security. Educational institutions are responsible for safeguarding the personal information and physical safety of their students and staff, and any unauthorized access or intrusion should be addressed immediately. It would be incumbent upon school administrators and local authorities to investigate any such activity and take appropriate measures to protect the school community.
Be safe, Berkeley High School, and don't beat yourself up over a half send.