As a tradition and part of the run-up to GBN’s homecoming dance, which took place on Sept. 28, 12 of North’s student clubs “painted the town,”signing up to decorate windows of Northbrook’s local businesses.

Northbrook’s Caribou Coffee volunteered as one of the businesses whose windows would be decorated by clubs such as Poms, Global citizens Club and Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA); the coffee shop approved the clubs that were assigned to their windows.

Painted on the afternoon of Sept. 23, GSA’s decorations consisted of rainbow colors in addition to symbols that represent lesbian, gay and transexual relationships. After receiving various complaints from members of the community, Caribou removed GSA’s decorations on Sept. 25, according to senior Joel Schleicher, member of North’s GSA.

“It’s our hope that all of our guests feel welcome in our coffeehouses,” Megan Fraboni, Caribou Coffee’s local public relations representative, said in an official press release. “Unfortunately, the actions undertaken by the Northbrook store team were not in alignment with our executional standards and policies; however, we take full responsibility of these actions.”

Caribou employees were directed not to comment on the situation.

Although some have acknowledged that the decision made by Caribou’s management was not necessarily demonstrative of the entire company, customers—students in particular—have taken action to stand up for what they believe is right, Schleicher said.

“I know students that have gone into Caribou and expressed their disappointment [and] anger to management, students who have posted on Caribou Coffee’s Facebook wall and many students who have posted their support for the LGBTQ community on their Facebooks,” Emily Komie, North’s GSA president, said.

Kerry Galson, District 225 English teacher, wrote a formal letter of complaint to Caribou “to raise [her] concerns that either local policy or corporate policy or… an individual’s bad decision had an impact.”

“That bad decision made a difference in people’s lives and I just wanted to draw attention to that fact.”

According to Matthew Bondy, co-president of North’s Global Citizens club, in response to negative feedback from customers and Northbrook residents, Caribou removed the other clubs’ decorations, including Global Citizens club’s painted window, on Sept. 27. Bondy expressed frustration with Caribou Coffee’s removal and the message it sent to the community.

“I was absolutely disgusted that [Caribou Coffee] attempted to eradicate the message of the Gay-Straight Alliance—a message of hope for societal harmony between all people regardless of their sexual orientation,” Bondy said.

Komie also expressed disapproval of Caribou’s decision.

“This Caribou was my ‘go-to’ spot for the past year,” Komie said. “I was hurt that one of the places that I used to love so much is now forever tarnished by blatant discrimination and intolerance. […] I greatly wish that… [Caribou] would have thought more before they acted, and the situation would not have come to this.”

Stephanie Jackson (name has been changed to protect identity), a North junior who came out as bisexual because she felt supported by the community’s objection to Caribou, expressed her feelings of isolation when she first heard about the situation.

“[The message is saying], ‘Sorry, but we aren’t really ready for you gays to be fully accepted here,’” Jackson said.

However, Jackson believes that the response from Northbrook and surrounding areas expressed support and respect for those in the LGBTQ community.

“These are the types of messages that help kids like me come out, because we see how pro-gay some straight people are, and it gives us more confidence,” Jackson said. “The positives from the community’s reaction definitely outweighed the negatives from Caribou’s actions.”