Teens agree: 311 Boyz overplayed

Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003 | 11 a.m.

Some of Las Vegas' brightest young minds say they are tired of hearing, watching and reading about the 311 Boyz.

But, judging by heated discussions during the 48th annual Sun Youth Forum Tuesday at the Las Vegas Convention Center, many Southern Nevada high school juniors and seniors are not tired of talking about the alleged gang made up of white youths from affluent northwest Las Vegas families.

"They have been way overblown," said Dane Bowen, a senior at Centennial High, where most of the 311 Boyz are or were students. "I know some of them, and they are normal people who made bad decisions. I'm not justifying what they did, but nobody is scared to go to the school, as had been reported. Their activities had nothing to do with the school."

Forty-one Clark County high schools and 876 students debated issues at the forum that focused on seven topics: America, Nevada, world issues, law and crime, school days, teen issues and potpourri. Divided into 21 groups moderated by community leaders, the teens addressed several subjects with a degree of intellect often well beyond their years.

One of the issues they debated passionately was the 311 Boyz, who are accused of committing acts of vandalism and violence, including staged street fights over the summer that Metro Police say the group videotaped for potential sale on the Internet.

The 311 Boyz have received national attention and are the subject of debate over whether they are just a bunch of kids who committed stupid acts while partying or are an actual gang in the legal sense. During a June 18 party in a gated community off Durango Drive, nine of the group's members were accused of smashing another teen's face with a rock and are awaiting trial on felony charges.

Still, many students at Centennial, including those picked for the Sun Youth Forum because of their high academic achievement, say the teens have received too much attention from the media and others.

"If there is a gang shooting on D Street it gets a mention on the 11 o'clock news and little else," said Blaire Schembari, a senior at Centennial. "But the 311 Boyz go on and on for weeks."

Brittany Jaarsma, a senior at Centennial agreed, noting, "There are two parody songs being played on the radio about them -- if that's not overblown, I don't know what is."

But other high school students say the coverage has been comprehensive because it is news.

"They are getting the media attention because they broke the stereotype (of inner-city minority gangs) and that sells papers," Marci Taylor of Coronado High said. "But in the courts they will not be treated any differently because they are a gang."

Rachel Knight, a senior at Cimarron-Memorial agreed, noting, "One of the kids who was beaten up real bad was from Cimarron (and that happened) because he was at a party talking to a girlfriend of one of (the 311 Boyz). The issue of protecting one's turf is a general characteristic of gang activity."

Other teen issues that were debated at the Sun Forum included:

"The purpose is to tell schools how good the students and teachers are doing. I think they should give the test but not hold it against the student if they don't pass. Anything that deters a student from graduating is a bad idea." -- Kirsten Garlock, Green Valley High, senior.

"Raising the driving age will only put older people on the road with no experience. It wouldn't change anything." -- Daniel Tullis, Durango High, senior.

"Nine p.m. on the Strip is way too early. ... The reason it is that way is because adults do not think teens are responsible. It is up to us to start changing that image," said Grace Saez, Silverado High, senior.

Late Sun Publisher Hank Greenspun co-founded the Sun Youth Forum with Sun Assistant to the Publisher Ruthe Deskin to give young people a voice in the community.

Hank's son Brian Greenspun, the Sun's president and editor, in his opening remarks to the students Tuesday, said the forum is "one of the most unique programs in the country" that over the last six decades has won several national awards.

He noted that the moderators were there to suggest topics and keep the discussions on track, but that the opinions would be solely those of the students "not influenced by parents, teachers or us."

Among this year's moderators were Brian and his brother Danny Greenspun, president of the Greenspun Media Group; School Board President Sheila Moulton; State Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins and Chief U.S. District Judge Philip Pro.

Each of the 21 groups, following two two-hour sessions, selected a representative who will either write a column for the Sun, appear on a roundtable discussion on UNLV cable television Channel 70 or write a column for CLASS!, a nonprofit magazine for, by and about local high school students.