PTA, BOT, Headmaster, Parents, Students, Alumni - Ladies and Gentlemen:

First of all, I would like to thank everyone here - PRO or AGAINST the decision to have Dr. Jenkins - Dale, my friend leave.

I think at the very least, this teaches us all - that CARING CAN BE A POWERFUL THING.

As ALUMNI president, I am here, to represent ALL previous students who have attended SJS school and considers both Dale and Kedel friends, and great role models.

The ALUMNI, is older, wiser and more jaded than when we graduated from this school years ago - and so I speak today not with any youthful NAIVETE, but rather with a sense of RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU see, no PARENT, TEACHER, BOT, or for that matter BISHOP can feel what I, and many alumni feel for this school as a STUDENT.

THIS school, is not important to US because of its brick and mortar - its magnificent view of TUMON BAY ... NO, this school is important because it represents our childhood and to a certain degree a reflection of ourselves.

YOU see, this is the school that many of us learned to laugh, cry, love, hate, hurt, lie, cheat and any other descriptive words that make us UNIQUELY human.

WE are proud of SJS. WE are glad that we were apart of its mystic. And therefore it pains me greatly to be here today to HIGHLY CRITICIZE it.

Dale and Kedel's departure saddens us. But again, we are not naive.

We understand that change sometimes is necessary.

BUT what we cannot condone nor allow is for this SCHOOL to act in a way in which it will ignore, hurt and destroy one of it OWN.

I don't care much about the politics that surround this school. I don't care much about the money that it generates. WHAT I do care for is the people that WORK here.

This SCHOOL did not succeed under one man's leadership alone. IT took many, many elements. And I have heard the critics say that no one person should be given the credit of this school's success. BUT I ask you - WHY NOT?

WHAT is so THREATENING about giving CREDIT where CREDIT is due? What is it that we fear?

IS Dale, Kedel or any one of these teachers, parents, BOT - perfect? No course not. So what's the point? The point my friends, is that for a MAN to dedicate himself towards one place for 26 years - it takes courage. It takes courage because one has to think that one day he will be replaced. BUT I think it is the hope that when that day comes, he or she will be treated with dignity and respect that such dedication was appreciated.

I know Dale pretty well. AND I am certain that he is embarrassed that such FANFARE has resulted from his departure. SO let me be clear when I say this - DALE did not ask me or any of the supporters here today for help.

DALE and KEDEL are receiving our HELP because HE is one of us - ONE of YOU - SJS BOT. A brother of the SJS FAMILY.

As ALUMNI, I find it sadly ironic that as this great school celebrates it's 41st Anniversary this year, we are departing with a man who was part of it MORE than NOT. LET me be clear. SINCE its inception, DALE has NOT been apart of SJS for 15 YEARS - and PART of it for 26. That's powerful don't you think?

Again, those of you who did not grow up in the SJS environment. Who were not students here. Don't worry about it - You'll NEVER UNDERSTAND.

All I can say to help you understand, is to ask you to think of this place as you would your CHILDHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD - And right now, this neighborhood stinks.

The purpose of this 'FIGHT' if you will, is not to divide the school, parents, students, faculty - it is to UNITE it. Not towards one cause or another. One man over another ...

NO, it's to remind us all that this SCHOOL and its HERITAGE is deemed important by those who attended it.

I think what many people feel today, is a search for a reason - an answer - TRUTH, if you will.

I end my commentary by quoting one of my favorite movies.

The movie was called "A Few Good Men".

In it Tom Cruise, prosecutor is interrogating Jack Nicholson.

It goes something like this...

Tom Cruise's character asks, "Did you order the code red?"

Jack replies, "You want answers?"

Tom Cruise replies "I want the truth."

Jack retorts, "You want answers?"

Tom Cruise demands "I WANT THE TRUTH"

Jack in fury responds "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"

BOT, HEADMASTER - respectfully, I think we ALL here can handle the truth - It's the manner in which this has been handled that we cannot accept. Do the right thing. Bring Dale back. Get this school back together again.

Thank you.