Student’s ‘love letter’ wins hearts
Though it has tarnished his academic record, Paul Gomille’s notorious love letter may have upped his “eligible bachelor” status at his Ajax high school. The young women of Archbishop Denis O’connor Catholic High School have taken a stand in favour of the Grade 12 student who is appealing his two-day suspension for handing out 136 copies of his public love letter — an ode to women’s inner beauty — to female students during lunch hour on Valentine’s Day. “It was very cute. I wasn’t at all offended,” fellow student Sarah Dineley said in the schoolyard Monday afternoon. “He’s very polite, the kind of guy who always holds the door open for you.” “It was great for boosting esteem,” added Marlaina Scriver, in Grade 9. “It actually made me feel good about myself. It brightened my day.” According to Gomille, the school administration said he “opposed authority” when he ignored principal Donna Modeste’s call to revise parts of the page-long letter (originally written as a speech) before heading to the photocopier. Modeste thought some of his sentences came off as judgmental, he said. But Grade 12 student Jenna Bilenduke and other flattered female students felt otherwise, many calling Gomille’s suspension an overreaction on the part of administration. “I thought it was pretty deep. It’s something everyone wants to hear,” said student Alyssa Rochford. “He’s one of the nicest kids in our school,” friend Laura Favacho said.
“I backed him100 per cent,” Bilenduke said. “(The letter) was an expression of beauty.” News of Gomille’s suspension in mid-february sparked outrage online, with fellow students taking to Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr to voice their support of the young man and his love letter. Students also started an online petition to “Free Paul” of the record of suspension, which he served at home. The petition has since collected 235 signatures. The Gomille family then took action, launching an appeal to the Durham Catholic District School Board to wipe the Grade 12 student’s academic slate clean of the Valentine’s Day incident. Gomille said his father has since received a letter from the board, noting that a representative had “forwarded the matter to the superintendent for action.” Tracy Barill, the board’s superintendent of education, said the board could not discuss student discipline cases with anyone but the student’s parents. As the family waits to hear from the board, many students continue to stand their ground in defence of Gomille and his appeal. Keneth Ilagan, a Grade 9 student, said he feared the precedent set by the love-letter case: “I feel like we’re losing our freedom of speech.” Gomille said he wouldn’t take the letter back if he could. “It’s affected people in such a wonderful way,” he said. “I believe that I did right the thing.”