The back of the auction invitiation writes “The Garfield experience is a journey through which students develop the courage, heart and brains to become our next generation of leaders.” While I agree with this statement, I also believe that those organizing the auction should set an example of courage, heart and brains by attempting to both reach out to and embrace Garfield’s diversity through this auction. The invitations seem fairly polarizing and more thought could have been put into ways to reach out to a broader group through the invitations.

The auction invitations, printed on a gold yellow paper, in magenta cursive writing spell out the words “Journey to Oz” followed with an ornate lion crest and the words Garfield High School invites you to the 2008 Annual Spring Auction. The thin magenta inserts include the auction dinner’s menu, a four course meal prepared by St. Clouds’ chef John Platt, and Thierry Rautereau of Rovers. The next page begins with the cursive words “follow the yellow brick road to” and then the address of the Northgate Community Center. A brief description of the event, which includes “Garfield student musicians provide entertainment” is right above a second explanation of the meal.

While they are aesthetically pleasing, the auction invitations may make some parents feel put off, especially if they have not had much access or experience with events similar to the 2008 auction. For Garfield, a school known for its diverse student body, the auction is a step in the wrong direction. Garfield has received criticism in the past for being segregated, and the auction invitations fulfill this idea: they give no indication that this event will be a community event for all Garfield parents.

Instead of being proud of our diversity like we should be, the auction seems a bit safe. The invitations seem to purely reach out to the wealthy parents at Garfield. Even though reaching the wealthy parents of the school is necessary for an auction, a more courageous step would be for our auction to be an event to resemble more of the student body. The emphasis of the tickets seem to be on their fifty-dollar price and expensive gourmet meal, not on the events held at the auction such as the student music performances.

The PTSA, even though their main objective is raising money used for the entire Garfield population, could have advertised this event in a more inviting manner. Offering a diverse array of events and performances and writing to the parents so they feel they can be of use not necessarily tied in with money.

For Garfield to become a less segregated school, having parents of all demographics at the auction would be a way to bring them together. Although they want the event to seem worthy of fifty dollars, there are less cliché and patronizing ways that would seem less elitist.

Reach out to parents in a way that will make them feel like they have something to bring to the table besides money, all the parents at the school probably have ideas, time, or services they could contribute if they felt that they were a part of this event. Instead of purely hyping this event as an auction which many people associate with signing of large amounts of money, advertise the music or whatever else would make parents feel that this auction is going to be fun and not make them feel out of place.

Garfield High School is not alone in its alienating and self-selecting with its 2008 auction; auctions all over the city and world are often catered to a wealthy demographic. We could be innovative in making their auction both a fundraiser and a way to connect Garfield parents of all demographics instead of staying in tune with the rest of the world in creating an upper class auction.

Since Garfield is so diverse, and the upper class demographic is a small percentage of the Garfield population, creating an auction that could reach out to the community would be a better way to connect the parents of our school.