Chapter 5 Summary

Chapter 5 begins on November 29. Walker explains that athletics are a central part of Frost High School and the Athletic Council made up of coaches and team captains is an influential group. As captain of the swim team, Walker is a member of the council, which addresses the issue of the racist newspapers that had appeared on campus. Walker and some other students were in favor of issuing a statement against the distribution of the papers and calling for disciplinary action against anyone who gives them out. A boy named Marty O'Brian, the captain of the baseball team, brings up the issue of protected free speech. Even if the message is disagreeable to some people, he argues, it should not be censored. The Council calls a vote on issuing a statement without calling for any punishment, and it passes with everyone but O'Brian voting...