The Barstow Beauty Queen

In May 2001, just weeks after being named “Miss Barstow” in the small California
town’s beauty contest, Emily Arnold, a high school senior, was celebrating
winning the crown, her 18th birthday, her pending graduation, and her acceptance
to the University of Arizona when she did a prank, never imagining the consequences.
Read the excerpt below about what transpired and decide what you
think should have been done to address the misdeed:
At a rival classmate’s house, she impulsively grabbed a piece of chalk and scrawled the
words “NOT NICE” and “MEAN” on a car windshield. The schoolmate’s father [Stan
Clair], a California Highway Patrol (CHP) sergeant, caught her in the act, called for
backup—three squad cars showed up—and had her and six friends arrested. The father
wants the district attorney to file charges of vandalism.
Tonight, Emily Arnold—cheerleader, honor student and class treasurer, so long the
beneficiary of small-town life, now the victim of it—will give back her crown. The sudden
controversy has left Barstow divided. “There are some people who felt that she
should be asked to leave [the position], and others who felt that she should not,” said
Kris Watson, director of the Miss Barstow contest for the last 12 years. (Scott Gold,
“The Short, Sad Reign of Miss Barstow,” Los Angeles Times, 28 Jun 2001)

What three to four thoughts or suggestions would you share with Kris Watson, director of the Miss Barstow contest?
As you might expect, the public responded. Set out your thoughts on the comments about the case printed in letters to the editor of the Los Angeles Times:

RESPONSE #1, WALLY ROBERTS: “Any reasonable father in such circumstances would have made the errant teens clean up the mess and apologize . . . in the circumstances, he grossly overreacted and used his authority as a CHP [California Highway patrol] officer to do so.”
RESPONSE #2, MARK HERDER: “I want to commend Sgt. Clair and the CHP for
their courageous takedown of Miss Barstow. Few people know or even care about the growing epidemic of teenage beauty queens run amok.Just yesterday I caught one scribbling “wash me” with her finger on the dusty windshield of my car. Sgt. Clair, where were you and your three squad cars of brave highway patrolmen when I needed you?”
RESPONSE #3, MARK ESPENSCHIED: “Shame on Clair, shame on the Kiwanis Club and shame on half the citizens of Barstow. . . . In a perfect world, Clair would be reprimanded by the CHP and kicked off the school board. By all means, get out of town, Emily Arnold. Go to where you cancontinue to excel.”

preview of the answer…

The acts of Emily Arnold were indeed deliquescent. As Miss Barstow, the town beauty queen, just like other beauty queens, Emily was supposed to show good behavior and even discourage wrongdoing by her colleagues. She was expected to be the role model for others. Therefore, as the director of the Miss Barstow contest, it is only logical that Kris Watson acts or at least comments concerning the stand of the franchise regarding the matter. Several suggestions and thoughts can help the director act as required of him based on the circumstances surrounding Miss Arnold’s case….

APA 667 words