High school hazing on The Early Show

[AXJules]

Mizzou's in the big 12

[momoftwo]

Originally posted by Fewdfreak
Still, some think the incident has been blown out of proportion. Parents of those who face punishment plan to try and legally block the suspension since none of the incidents took place on school grounds. A mother of two boys who received suspensions did not want to go on camera, but she says parents will fight the punishment. She feels the school doesn't have the right to suspend students for something that happened off school grounds and after the school year was over.

Larry Kaplan, the uncle and attorney of Marnie Holz, the first GBN student to go to court and the last to drop her legal actions, had some interesting perspectives on the courts and school punishments. Marnie was unsuccessful in both state and federal court. Mr. Kaplan indicated that, in his research, the courts almost never get involved in these types of disputes between parents and school districts. These parents in Bettendorf should save their money and let their kids accept the consequences for their actions. I've found that sending a clear message that you don't approve of particular behaviors can be effective in stopping them...

When my son was in 5th grade, he got into a fight (he retaliated) and received a one day suspension. The prinicipal was very kind when he told me the story and I actually appreciated that they cared enough about my son to send him the message that his behavior was unacceptable. I took the day he was suspended off of work and had him do some pretty hefty yard work (digging up a dead bush, planting a new one). And since I used a vacation day to supervise him, I told him I wasn't willing to take another day off to go on a trip he'd been asking for. Nothing about his consequences had any long lasting negative affect on him, but, you know, it was the last time he got in trouble at school. (He's 15 now.)

I really think that if parents would focus on the reason their kids were punished, and not on fighting the consequences, there would be far more civility in our society. For me, its pretty simple, treat others as you would like to be treated. (Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now!)

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by AXJules
Mizzou's in the big 12

Along with Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A & M, Baylor, Oklahoma State, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech... OK who did I forget?

[tinydancer]

You left out Iowa State. Don't feel bad - I had to go look it up!

[AlphaSigOU]

Originally posted by tinydancer
You left out Iowa State. Don't feel bad - I had to go look it up!

Duh! And that's the only school in the Big XII with an active Alpha Sig chapter (Phi)!

[momoftwo]

Yesterday all but two of those charged in the GBN hazing incident appeared in court. The Senior boy who transported the kegs to the juniors' party and to the forest preserve pled guilty. His sentence is 2 years probation and 30 hours of community service. Trials of the others will begin in August.

Hazing suspects go to court
Teenager admits alcohol charge; task force to meet

By Lisa Black and Courtney Flynn
Tribune staff reporters
Published July 16, 2003

As 14 former Glenbrook North High School students and two parents filed into a courtroom Tuesday for their alleged roles in a hazing, a community task force prepared to meet to discuss how to prevent similar incidents.

Sixteen teenagers were charged in the May 4 hazing. Prosecutors said Tuesday that a sixth videotape has been added to evidence.

The teens--most of them women--declined to comment as they left Circuit Court in Skokie accompanied by parents and lawyers.

Most of the teens will return to court Aug. 15 to face misdemeanor battery charges. Some are pursuing jury trials while others are expected to seek settlements.

One student, Grant Lustig, pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful possession of an alcoholic beverage by a minor, a misdemeanor.

Judge Timothy Chambers sentenced Lustig, 18, of Northbrook to two years of probation and 30 days of community service.

Lustig transported three kegs of beer to a garage in Northbrook on May 2, then took two of the kegs to a county forest preserve where the hazing occurred two days later, authorities said.

During the hazing, senior girls dumped buckets of urine, hair, animal entrails and other filth on the juniors. Some seniors are charged with also kicking and punching the juniors, who paid $35 or more to attend the annual event originally billed as a powder-puff football game.

In addition to expelling 33 seniors, the school district disciplined 20 juniors who participated in the initiation rite.

On July 28, the school board will consider a request from three juniors who have asked that their suspensions be overturned, said Supt. Dave Hales of Northfield Township High School District 225.

Meanwhile, a task force that school and village officials organized to investigate the off-campus hazing will meet Wednesday night.

High school administrators, teachers, parents, students and community leaders will study broader issues such as teen drinking and parental responsibility.

The group's meeting, its second, will be closed to the public because officials expect to discuss personnel matters during a review of the hazing and how it was handled, Hales said.

The district expects to spend more than $200,000 on legal services related to the hazing, and more bills may be coming, he said. The district defended itself against lawsuits filed by students who fought their suspensions in court.

The teens dropped their lawsuits, and most signed a waiver, agreeing to terms set by the school district that allowed them to graduate.

"Things have pretty much come to a close from our standpoint," Hales said. "I expect, by the end, we may spend about a quarter million."

Rachelle Betancourt, 17, of Northbrook is expected to appear for a bench trial before Chambers on Aug. 15. Gina Mengarelli, 18, of Northbrook is expected to face a jury trial in early August.

Marcy Spiwak, 50, of Northbrook, a parent charged with allowing her home to be used for underage drinking, also is seeking a jury trial.

Other students facing misdemeanor battery charges are Kirsten Barrish, 18; Tania Dionissopoulos, 17; Marnie Gaule, 17; Rachel Guidone, 18; Jamie Kozin, 18; Jennifer Larson, 18; Danielle Papakanelou, 18; Sarah Rosselli, 18; Maria Troyanovsky, 17; Valerie Yudell, 18; Dominic Vargas, 18; Eliran Maman,18; and Trevor Roberts, 18.

Also, Christine Neal, 49, the mother of Vargas, is charged with buying three kegs of beer for the teens.

The two teens who were not scheduled to appear in court Tuesday were Rosselli and Troyanovsky.


Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune

[momoftwo]

This is from the local paper. I'm sure those girls agreed to have a bucket put over their heads and be beaten with a baseball bat.

Lawyer: Did hazed girls consent?
BY IRV LEAVITT
STAFF WRITER

Attorneys for the teens charged with battery during the May 4 "powder puff' incident in Northbrook agreed to continuances Tuesday, but some indicated they'll question the credibility of those claiming to be victims.
Steven Decker, the Northbrook lawyer defending Gina Mengarelli, Tuesday sought school records of the two complainants in the case against his client. He said he wants to know if such information would cast doubt on their testimony. Other attorneys also said they'll seek victims' school records.

Decker is one of two attorneys who last month asked for jury trials for their clients. The other is Sam Adams Jr., who represents Tania Dionissopoulos.

Mengarelli's case may give an indication of how the others will proceed. Pretrial arguments have been scheduled for Aug. 1, with the intention that her trial should begin soon after. The cases of the other 14 youths charged with battery were continued Tuesday to Aug. 15 or Sept. 18.

One of the youths believed to have transported alcohol that fueled the Chipilly Woods "powder puff" event pleaded guilty to unlawful posession of an alcoholic beverage Tuesday. Grant Lustig, 18, was sentenced to two years probation and 30 days community service. A condition of his parole is that he be tested to ensure he's not drinking alcohol.

Decker won the right for the school records to be considered as evidence, but they will only be used if a Cook County Circuit Court judge agrees they are relevant.
Joel DeTella, an attorney representing Glenbrook North High School District 225, told Judge Timothy Chambers Tuesday that "I couldn't give him those records if I wanted to," because it would violate Illinois School Code. He added that the judge could supersede that code and order the records to be turned over.

Chambers then ordered the records, and said he will decide behind closed doors if they're relevant. He could decide to let Decker or a jury see them.

Decker said he will argue Aug. 1 for the right to present a "consent defense," in which he claims that everything done to junior girls by his client May 4 was tacitly agreed to by all parties.

He and several other attorneys representing "powder puff" defendants have said that their clients didn't strike any of the complainants, and all the prosecution will be able to prove their clients did May 4 was pour various noxious substances over the junior girls' heads.

Decker promised to present evidence that the prosecution's claims of battery via actions of an "insulting or provoking nature" can't be true, since all parties agreed the event would include senior students smearing objectionable materials on junior students. He said he will submit a videotape and at least one still picture of the 2002 Northbrook "powder puff" event as evidence. "This will show why some people would think it would be reasonable and not criminal to attend the event" in 2003, he said outside the courtroom.

Rollin Soskin, an attorney representing three junior students who say they were victimized May 4, disagreed Tuesday with Decker's assessment of the situation. He said that his clients were injured, and their injuries were due to criminal activity, not their own consent. "Any lack of criminal activity in 2002 has no effect on what happened in 2003," he added.

The battery cases of Dionissopoulos, Kirsten Barrish, Rachelle Betancourt, Marnie Gaule, Rachel Guidone, Danielle Papakanelou, Jennifer Larson, Jamie Kozin, Trevor Roberts, Sarah Roselli, Maria Troyanovsky, Dominic Vargas and Valerie Yudell, all of Northbrook, have been continued until Aug. 15. The battery case of Eliran Maman, of Glenview, was continued until Sept. 18.

The cases of the two Northbrook adults charged in the case were also continued until Aug. 15. Marcy Spiwak was charged with allowing underage drinking in her home prior to the Chipilly Wood event, and Christine Neal was charged with helping provide alcohol that fueled the incident. Neal's teen son, Vargas, was charged with unlawful possession of alcohol. All are Northbrook residents.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by momoftwo
He and several other attorneys representing "powder puff" defendants have said that their clients didn't strike any of the complainants, and all the prosecution will be able to prove their clients did May 4 was pour various noxious substances over the junior girls' heads.

Oh! Well, that makes it OK! Geez.

(I guess those beatings we saw on the video tapes were all special effects done with smoke and mirrors)

[starang21]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Oh! Well, that makes it OK! Geez.

(I guess those beatings we saw on the video tapes were all special effects done with smoke and mirrors)

don't you love the mentality of these spoiled kids? it comedy that parent responsibility is going to be discussed, since none of these kids have any clue what responsibility is.

[momoftwo]

Here's some info on the task force the communities put together to address the incident.

I'm a little puzzled by the Northbrook village manager's statement that seems to indicate an acceptance of hazing practices, " hazing is part of our society, but at the same time, the event that happened on May 4 clearly was something that was unacceptable and it has to be dealt with."

I guess my take is that when hazing is tolerated at any level, you leave yourself open for the situation to escalate as this one did.

By Robert Channick, Special to the Tribune. Tribune staff reporter Courtney Flynn contributed to this report
Published July 18, 2003

After meeting behind closed doors for three hours, a task force on hazing agreed late Wednesday that its next discussion will be public and will focus on preventing the type of violence that put Glenbrook North High School in the national spotlight in May.

At the next task force meeting July 30, members will try to come up with four to six key issues for subcommittees to study throughout August, said John Novinson, Northbrook village manager.

When the village and Northfield Township High School District 225 formed the task force last month, officials said it would examine issues such as bullying, underage drinking and parental responsibility.

About two-thirds of the 32-member group gathered in Northbrook Village Hall Wednesday to hear presentations on many of those issues, Novinson said.

"Everything we knew, or think we know, was laid on the table for them, so that they're in a position to identify for us the issues," he said after the meeting.

The task force is made up of state lawmakers, high school administrators, teachers, a parent, a student and community leaders. It was formed in response to an off-campus hazing incident May 4 during which senior girls from Glenbrook North were videotaped dumping buckets of urine, animal entrails and other filth on junior girls.

In addition to suspensions and expulsions doled out to some participants by school officials, 15 teens and two parents face criminal charges for their alleged roles. Another teenager pleaded guilty to possession of alcohol by a minor.

Among the task force members is state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest).

"Our goal is to make sure we do everything we can from preventing that type of event from happening in the future," Garrett said.

Other members include state Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) and Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin.

Nekritz declined to comment on her role because the task force has designated Novinson as its spokesman.

Garrett said she and Nekritz are on the task force to provide help if members determine any changes or additions are needed in state law related to hazing.

Goslin, who did not attend Wednesday's meeting, said Thursday that through the task force, "diverse sections of the community will come together to see if we can be proactive." He said he has two children in Glenbrook South High School.

The group's next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 30 in the boardroom in Northbrook Village Hall, 1225 Cedar Lane.

The task force hopes to have preliminary subcommittee reports ready for a public hearing it plans to hold Sept. 4, Novinson said.

"Our initial vision included having at least one public comment session," Novinson said.

The subcommittees' findings will be incorporated into a task force report. A first draft is to be finished in late October, and Novinson said a final report could be complete by Dec. 1.

Novinson said he hopes the findings will help prevent violent hazing.

Hazing "is part of our society, but at the same time, the event that happened on May 4 clearly was something that was unacceptable and it has to be dealt with," Novinson said.


Copyright © 2003, Chicago Tribune

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by momoftwo

At the next task force meeting July 30, members will try to come up with four to six key issues for subcommittees to study throughout August, said John Novinson, Northbrook village manager.

When the village and Northfield Township High School District 225 formed the task force last month, officials said it would examine issues such as bullying, underage drinking and parental responsibility.

About two-thirds of the 32-member group gathered in Northbrook Village Hall Wednesday to hear presentations on many of those issues, Novinson said.

Experience tells me that this is likely to turn into an exercize in frustration, futility and fruitlessness.

It will "try" to come up with "four to six" key issues to study? Seems to me that the issues are fairly obvious. If the committee has to "try," their vision is suspect.

The optimum size for a working group is five -- groups of thirty-two seldom get much done. They're too unwieldy and difficult to control. Also, at the last meeting a third of the panel didn't attend. How do you fit meetings into everyone's schedule? By the way, nice of them to allow one student on the board with all of the politicians.

As for the comment about hazing in our society -- while unfortunate, it is true. We are very cognizant of hazing because it is such a huge issue in the Greek System and because we are taken to task so often for it. (And we should be) But, as it has been pointed out many times here on GC, hazing is everywhere -- the military, marching bands, athletics, other fraternal organizations and others. It should be stopped everywhere -- but that will be a long and hard process. In any event, we need to put our own house in order before we worry about the neighbors.

In the final analysis, this committee exercize isn't a surprize -- and it's a good way for the high school administrators and politicians to utter high and mighty proclamations on the state of our society, youth and our schools -- but it will be a difficult task for anything to come from it besides a long report with a lot of big words that will likely be unenforceable or quickly forgotten.

Or, am I just an uncurable cynic?

[momoftwo]

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Experience tells me that this is likely to turn into an exercize in frustration, futility and fruitlessness.

I'm afraid you're probably right. The director of Youth Services, who deals with many of the troubled teens in Glenview and Northbrook took some heat because she expressed the same opinion. The task force is too large to be effective.

Interestingly enough, the local news this week also included the results of a survey on the stress levels experienced by kids in our high schools. Included in those results were statistics that our kids report that a large of them don't have any rules and that their parents weren't consistent about discipline. No wonder we need a task force!

My daughter is a camp counselor. One of her kids has been picking fights with the other kids all summer long. She's been taking the corrective actions she's allowed to and is telling his babysitter and parents, but his behavior doesn't improve. This week, one of the campers retaliated, and the instigator came home with scratches on his neck and chest. His father (big, huge, scary man) came into camp and screamed at my daughter because his child got hurt.

While there's lots of good about where we live, there are also lots of kids who have no limits and whose parents look in the wrong direction when things go wrong. Those dynamics were definitely in play in the hazing situation. Wonder what the task force is going to have to say about that?!

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by momoftwo
While there's lots of good about where we live, there are also lots of kids who have no limits and whose parents look in the wrong direction when things go wrong. Those dynamics were definitely in play in the hazing situation. Wonder what the task force is going to have to say about that?!

My guess is, they'll blame the school, because you can't blame the parents who belong to the booster club and are in junior league and donated all that money to the lacrosse team. When I was in high school there was a very small hazing incident, nothing of this magnitude, and I was on the victim end. I got punished slightly less than the offending girl, but nobody even thought to ask her parents why their 18 year old daughter thought it would be a good idea to make a sophomore eat mud. They blamed the school, the coach, the athletic department...her dad even made a comment about how I should have stood up and took it. I think sometimes in affluent communities we get so hung up on people's last names and what they've done that we let their kids get away with extreme things. Another case in point would be all the kids around here who get pulled over for drunk driving and have the cops drive them home, no tickets, no questions.

[momoftwo]

Originally posted by GeekyPenguin
Another case in point would be all the kids around here who get pulled over for drunk driving and have the cops drive them home, no tickets, no questions.

Some things have changed in Northbrook since May 4. Tickets for curfew violations are already at the total they reached all last year. There's apparently a greater police presence in the parks and forest preserve. When neighbors see signs of teens and drugs or alcohol, they are calling the police. It seems like the community is trying to make a statement about what behavior they consider acceptable.

[DeltAlum]

Originally posted by momoftwo
Some things have changed in Northbrook since May 4. Tickets for curfew violations are already at the total they reached all last year. There's apparently a greater police presence in the parks and forest preserve. When neighbors see signs of teens and drugs or alcohol, they are calling the police. It seems like the community is trying to make a statement about what behavior they consider acceptable.

Which could be helpful, but, at least in part, is the proverbial closing the gate when the horse is already out of the stable.

Frankly, I find the curfew tickets thing disturbing -- because I don't recall curfew being a part of this equation. It's easy for it to become open season on kids in the minds of some law enforcement.

The extra patrols in parks, etc. probably aren't a bad thing, and anytime neighbors get involved in drug or alcohol problems, it's probably also a good thing. You simply have to hope that the "community statement" doesn't penalize all the kids who aren't breaking the law.

This entire situation is of interest to me because we live (and our kids attended) in a school system which is probably a lot like Northbrook. Of the five (soon to be six) high schools in the district, three of them are on "the list," one above and two below your school. One of them had 42 National Merit Scholars or Finalists in it's last graduating class. It's an amazing system, but the social interactions are so complicated, and often so confusing to a teenager, it's amazing that there aren't many more incidents. The kids there have just as many opportunities to get into trouble as those in less desirable neighborhoods. But, in many cases, it's different kind of trouble.

Or perhaps there are as many incidents, and we just don't hear about them.

Then there's living about ten miles from Columbine High School, where the area is, demographically, probably very much like Northbrook. Maybe not quite as affluent, but close. The shooters were bullied, called names, etc. Which is basically hazing.

We necessarily concentrate so much on the inner-city schools, while gigantic problems fester in the suburbs as well.

It's a worrisome situation at best.