High school article causing stir

The article is causing quite a stir west of Houston, where residents in several communities are voicing their outrage.

Taylor High School senior Tatinana Corey doesn't make a habit of reading Cinco Ranch's campus paper, and a recent editorial makes her wish she never did.

"They knew that we'd read it and probably get mad about it, because it wasn't that funny," she said. "We don't really like Cinco. They apparently don't like us, either."

The article appeared earlier this month. And in it, the authors write about Cinco Ranch territory, asking why kids and parents from neighboring schools frequent their hangouts, like Mission Burrito, Starbucks, Sonic, Chick-fil-a and even SuperTarget, and writing that '...you can't help but be a little bit angry when you're stuck in the Whataburger drive thru behind an unimaginably large caravan of Katy cars..." and "...don't they have their own places to go?" It also expresses a "sense of ownership" to the neighboring businesses and restaurants.

All students with whom we talked admit there are strong rivalries among Katy area high schools, but Jason Cromeans, who is a Cinco Ranch senior says he knows one of the article's authors and is sure the editorial was harmless.

"I didn't think it was that big a deal," he said. "If you take it seriously, that's kinda, I don't think it was meant to be taken seriously. It just got blown way out of proportion."

But it's serious enough that the paper has now issued an apology, contending the editorial was a satire. Seven Lakes senior Kristen Jaffurs didn't see the humor.

"I don't think anyone found it funny and I honestly don't think it was completely a joke because they wouldn't write it if it wasn't true," she said.

The apology from Cinco Ranch says the article "caused a great deal of pain and anguish in the Katy community. The staff of the County Line wishes to offer a sincere apology to all students, parents and district employees who found statements made in the article to be offensive."

It goes on to say the article was satirical and meant to mock the attitudes that create division and conflict in our community.

Read the statement released by Katy ISD.