In a recent procedure implemented at in the Clear Creek Ninth Grade Center students who arrive prior to the 7:10 am bell are required to proceed into either the cafeteria commons area or to the boy’s gym. The controversial aspect is that the students are separated by gender. The girls are directed to the cafeteria and the boys are required to go upstairs to the boy’s gym. Mr. Joseph Ruiz, associate principal of Clear Creek High School, was asked to do a press conference concerning his recent actions.



When asked about the motives behind the separation Ruiz assured that it was enacted solely as a solution to the overcrowding in the cafeteria. Due to the growing enrollment the number of students in the cafeteria clearly exceeds the 700-student limit set by the fire marshall. After 25 days of observation, administrators determined that a change needed to be made. Several different options were discussed, and it was decided that separating the students by gender would be the easiest to monitor, and the quickest to implement.



The safety of the students is Ruiz’s number one concern. As he stressed in his interview the over crowding increases the likelihood of accidents, and it is important to be prepared in a school with a large population like Creek. Ruiz was concerned that if there was a need to evacuate large areas, such as the cafeteria, students could get injured by the large amount of people trying to exit the building. Also, if a student were to get sick, or a fight was to break out, teachers would not be able to get to the scene in time to provide assistance. For these same reasons Ruiz foreshadowed that he may be implementing new procedures later in the year concerning lunches, buses, and seating in the mornings. Ruiz continuously stressed that any change that he would make in the future would, again be strictly out of concern for the safety of the students.



Ruiz further defended this act by saying that he had spoken with many students and none of them seemed to mind the separation. Students like A. Metwalli confirmed this. Metwalli said, “It doesn’t really bother me, but there’s still not enough room.” While students like Metwalli agree with Ruiz, others disagree and continue to argue otherwise.

S Ortiz said, “I don’t like it because I don’t get to talk with my guy friends. What’s the big deal about different genders in different places?”

Another freshman, J Sanders claims “It is totally unacceptable and outrageous,” and it appears that many others seem to accept the same point of view as Ortiz and Sanders, and feel that the new procedure is a punishment.



To those students who feel they have been wronged, Ruiz would like to assure them that this and any other measure he takes is done strictly for the safety of the student. In fact, Ruiz considers this one of the least drastic measures possible. Ruiz said that this was “Since 90-92 percent of students already had chosen to separate themselves by gender before the policy had been implemented.”

For those who continue to disagree, Ruiz says that any student is free to come to him with any questions that they may have. However he would like to say to all freshmen students, “ There are some battles to fight, and some not to fight,” and he claims that this is not a battle worth fighting. In spite of that, it is up to students to choose their battles.