[momoftwo]

Juniors face suspension if they don't sign pledge

BY SARA LOEB
STAFF WRITER

Glenbrook North High School has "taken action" to suspend 20 juniors involved in the May 4 hazing incident, but school officials say students who agree to certain school-dictated terms can continue to attend classes. Superintendent Dave Hales says the district wants the students to agree to counseling, agree not to profit commercially from the incident, and promise never to attend another hazing.

"The emphasis the school is trying to provide is that this was not appropriate (behavior), and to provide counseling and support for them," Hales said Tuesday.

The district is still "working with students and their parents" and cannot reveal how many students have agreed to the terms that will prevent their suspensions, spokeswoman Diane Freeman said Tuesday.

Fifteen or 16 juniors have indicated they will agree to the district's terms, a source with direct knowledge of talks between the school and some parents of junior students said Tuesday.

In a statement released Friday, Glenbrook North Principal Mike Riggle said the administration acted because some juniors had violated the Illinois School Code policy that prohibits students from participating in secret societies.

"Our goal in all of our actions, disciplinary and otherwise, is that GBN students never again participate in any type of hazing, embarrassing, or harassing activities," Riggle's statement said.

Hales said the state school code requires school officials to either suspend or expel students who participate in secret societies. He said the juniors were being considered for suspension rather than expulsion because "they knowingly participated in this activity, but while I believe they knew there'd be hazing, I don't believe they felt it would be what occurred, as such." He added that what occurred was "quite a bit of suffering."

Rollin Soskin, attorney for three of the juniors who sought medical treatment after the May 4 melee, this week said he'll contest disciplinary action for his clients. In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Soskin argued the powder puff hazing was not the kind of incident targeted by the Illinois School Code article that prohibits public school fraternities, sororities or secret societies.

Soskin also stated that his clients are confused about when they might be suspended if they don't agree to sign the agreement the district is offering. And he said he wrote Hales Tuesday that his clients weren't sure whether they should have attended classes Tuesday, because they weren't sure if they had been suspended May 16, when they were told by school officials that they would not be allowed to attend the following evening's prom, or other extra-curricular events that weekend.