To Whom it May Concern:
I hope you appreciate my business letter format. I did, after all, learn it from you. I was a part of the Williamson County School System from the time I was in 2nd grade up through my graduation in the spring of 2013. During my time as a WCS student, I (and many of my classmates) took issue with several decisions made and changes implemented by the school board. But I have never been so disappointed with Williamson County Schools as I am now in light of the appointment of Mark Gregory as chairman of the school board.
Yes, this is about the "ButtleOpener."
Mark Gregory's "ButtleOpener" is not just a tacky, tasteless novelty item. It is offensive. And it speaks to the character of a man who claims to represent the values of "the majority of constituents in our county." I hope, for the sake of the thousands of females whom the school board represents, that his values are not aligned with the majority of the county's.
The "ButtleOpener" is repugnant. It is disgusting. I am disgusted by it. It is an incredible example of objectification in action. A woman's body has been reduced to nothing more than her rear. And, to make things worse, that rear serves only as a tool. A gimmick. A joke. On the surface, most people seem to be viewing the "ButtleOpener" as inappropriate due to its appearance. But I take issue with the very design and functionality of this "harmless" invention. All it takes is a quick Google search to find a YouTube video of the "ButtleOpener" in action. The video features a cute, scantily clad young woman with a beer in hand. But the cutesie facade crumbles away the second she crosses to the "ButtleOpener" and goes to open her beer.
When I first read about Gregory's invention, the first question I had was, "How was this man ever allowed to make decisions about my education?" And the second question was, "How does this thing even work?" Presently, I still have no answer to my first question, but I wish I hadn't found the answer to the second.
To open a bottle with the "ButtleOpener," one must insert the bottle under the female rear, where the actual bottle opener is located. I think it's important to stop for a second and consider the visual involved here. What does this action seem to imply? Maybe it's just me, but the image of a bottle being placed in a woman's rear-end doesn't seem quite as harmless as Gregory wants us to think it is. To me, this is a sexually-charged, if not explicit, image. And, in my humble opinion, it has an undercurrent of imagery suggesting elements of a particularly cruel form of sexual assault.
This being said, now is probably an appropriate time to mention that, in instances of sexual assault within Williamson County schools, the responsibility of investigating the assault falls to none other than the Williamson County Board of Education. A Board of Education that is now chaired by the man who invented such a degrading novelty as the "ButtleOpener." An invention that was conceived after Mark and his brother ogled the behind of a woman who was serving them in a restaurant. They reduced that server to her behind, too.
I have a thirteen year old sister who is currently attending school in Williamson County. I am uncomfortable with the knowledge that her education is being determined by a man like Mark Gregory. But I am even more disturbed by the thought that if, God forbid, my sister ever found herself the victim of a sexual assault or harassment, the outcome of her case would be determined by the likes of a man who sees no problem with sticking a bottle in a plastic rear-end because it's funny and "boys will be boys."
From a legal perspective, Gregory's presence on the board has opened quite a can of worms for Williamson County Schools because the credibility of the board with respect to sexual assault and harassment has been completely undermined by his revolting invention. How can the school board make any fair decisions about what is or is not appropriate behavior when the board itself is under the control of a man who seems to have no concept of what is appropriate?
Frankly, it makes me sick to think that this man has been on the school board since I was in the 4th grade. If a student ever exhibited such sexually inappropriate behavior, he/she would have faced serious consequences. The same is true for teachers. So why should a member of the school board be allowed to engage in such behavior and still maintain such a position of power?
If Mark Gregory wants to invent and distribute an objectifying, tasteless novelty item, that is his prerogative. However, as chairman of the school board, he should be held to a much higher standard. I will be encouraging my friends and family with ties to Williamson County Schools to voice their dissatisfaction with Mark Gregory's position as chairman. If the board is supposed to reflect the values of its constituents, then the constituents' opinions should be of the utmost importance in such a matter as this. Personally, I believe the "ButtleOpener" speaks volumes about Mark Gregory's opinions of women and, consequently, his ability to effectively govern a diverse student body in one of the greatest school systems in the country.
Gregory and his "ButtleOpener" are a disgrace.
My little sister deserves so much better.
Sincerely,
Delaney Amatrudo
Fred J. Page High School Class of '13
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