by Emily Moss
Last Thursday X-block, approximately 100 students and faculty members met with interim principal Mark Aronson to discuss acts of racism and anti-Semitism facing the North community.
“My guiding light in all of this is that it is about you,” Aronson told the group. “People care about you and want to make sure you know how much you matter.”
He added that he hopes the new advisory board will allow students to reach out to their larger peer groups in order to address issues “that affect not only your own group but everyone around you.”
“I’d like for this group to come up with ideas about how we can mend and heal as well as do something productive,” said Aronson.
Aronson subsequently opened the meeting to questions from students.
Senior Lily Gomberg expressed a belief that the acts of racism and anti-Semitism facing the North community “have not come from a place of deep hatred,” but of  “ignorance.”
She suggested that the school consider broadening and diversifying the history curriculum. “When I was in 10th grade, we spent one month on the French Revolution, and one day on the Holocaust,” said Gomberg. She noted that even beyond that, the focus on Western history fails to reflect the demographics of the student body.
Junior Fariha Mahjabin reiterated the idea that the issues facing the school reflect ignorance. She emphasized the importance of discussing such issues with the student body, rather than simply meting out punishments to those guilty of racist and anti-Semitic actions.
“Subduing their voices will not change the culture, it will just delay it,” said Mahjabin.