Justice wasn't served

To the Columbia Falls school board:

I wonder if I’m the only one in the audience at your Demari DeReu school board hearing who left distressed with your decision? Not only was I distressed that you chose to sidestep the question of expelling the young lady, but am firmly in belief you were wrong in your decision to reinstate her, accompanied by several blandishments designed to mitigate any future stigma arising from her crime.

The chief reason I would’ve taken a different track for the girl (after the decision was already rendered) is that I do not believe Demari DeReu committed a crime and thus needed no pardon. It’s probable you feel you accomplished your objective of visiting the lightest penalty under the law that was possible for you to bestow, but though you may indeed have followed the rules prescribed by law, there was no way justice was served. And I doubt very many observers in the audience — including those who testified in support of your decision — were really satisfied with the outcome.

I’ll compliment the chairwoman on how smoothly she controlled the meeting, and the composure of both board and school administration was circumspect, and I’m sure they all slept soundly that night. But fairness was unmeted. And I’ll bet a dollar against a dime that none of the DeReu family, though relieved that their criminal daughter won’t suffer additional punishment, feel that they or Demari received probity from their peers.

Neither, I think, did the majority of those who attended the meeting feel their voices were heard. Most, I think, thought they might have an opportunity to express themselves about the way their school dispenses administrative honor and loyalty. That the meeting should be so rigidly controlled that no true public expression was allowed may have been unforeseen by attendees – certainly it was unforeseen by this attendee.

Perhaps an argument could be made that the better public good was served by shoveling the entire Demari DeReu affair under the table and pretending justice where justice does not exist. Perhaps by simply ignoring the public’s concern they thought it would somehow go away, but I hope that “perhaps” is a “perhaps” that’s gang agley.

Was Demari DeReu guilty of a crime? Yes, she unintentionally left her uncleaned, unoiled rifle in the trunk of her car for two days and three nights after hunting on the final day of hunting season amid cold and snow. Her daddy should have taught her better. So, what kind of crime is that? A crime against a good weapon, yes, but not exactly an ax murder.

A rifle in a case, inside a locked trunk of her own personal vehicle. No accompanying ammo. An earnest request by the young lady admitting her oversight and asking for advice from trusted advisors for instructions about what to do, advisors who turned into wardens instead of counselors; wardens, who suspend her from school for what? Forgetfulness?

Justice? Where? Laws, rules, wardens instead of counselors are the results of Demari DeReu’s hasty and neglectful failure to finish unloading her car from hunting (not to mention earnest honesty in admitting her oversight to school officials). I’m ashamed to think this is a school my children attended; ashamed that Columbia Falls will be branded as a school where rules and laws are religiously adhered to, but justice is lacking.

Lacking, too, was a proper forum for expressing dissenting views. That may have been good crowd control, but it was darned poor public service.

Roland Cheek

Columbia Falls