Words are underrated. Just 26 letters have the potential to bring students together or tear apart a school community. 

The recent racial incidents on Cal’s campus were, without a doubt, insensitive and unacceptable.  

It is not OK to mark a urinal for “Whites” and another one for “Colored.” It is not OK to scrawl the “N word” in an attempt to insult and segregate students on campus.  

The moment any TV news anchor, in this case KTVU’s Frank Somerville, wonders if our school has “a history of racial tensions” is a hint that something is not right. 

The recent matters are not just about Cal’s reputation. It is about what Cal is at its core. 

Ironically, a few weeks prior to these small-minded incidents, several hundred students had been involved in promoting school unity and togetherness at Breaking Down the Walls.  It seems that Cal has taken a huge step back in our progress toward a unified campus environment with just a few hateful words that were arranged in such a way that was so harmful and misguided.

Cal students should take pride in the diverse campus that has always represented, rather than shy away from the oppressive atmosphere that has seems to have taken over our school the past few weeks. 

But what has happened is no indication of what can happen. The ignorant acts of an individual or group do not define who the student body is as a whole. 

Now is not only the time to look at the writing on the wall, but it is time to face it. Racism has always existed. But the blatant racist graffiti on campus created an environment of fear and insecurity for many students.

High school students are notorious for their immaturity. It is thus easy to brush off the recent events as examples of “kids just being kids” or “a stupid joke.” 

In this case, that is not true. 

It is not a valid excuse. 

People are not born with the idea to segregate others of a different skin color from using the same bathroom stall.

These recent events do not deserve to be ignored or forgotten. They should be understood and discussed to avoid something like this from happening again. 

The Californian understands that racism haunts high schools all across America. While time may have lessened the amount and potency of the hatred, racism itself is still here. 

The reason that this particular issue is so important is because Cal holds itself to a higher standard in terms of respect for its students and staff. 

The unexpected racially offensive graffiti goes against the norm of what one would expect from a school with rare incidents of racially charged conflicts. 

But Cal is not fighting a losing battle. 

The administration, teachers and students must find a way to work together. 

It is important as it is necessary tht Cal stands as one strong student body that respects each other.

Or else, divided, we will fall.