The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Pathfinder on June 11, 2008, 06:49:01 AM
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Sorry, based solely on this article, there just ain't no way to make this right.
7 Arrested for Cheering at High School Graduations
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365461,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365461,00.html)
COLUMBIA, S.C. — When school officials in Rock Hill, South Carolina, tell graduation ceremony crowds to hold their applause until the end, they mean it — Police arrested seven people after they were accused of loud cheering during the ceremonies.
Six people at Fort Mill High School's graduation were charged Saturday and a seventh at the graduation for York Comprehensive High School was charged Friday with disorderly conduct, authorities said. Police said the seven yelled after students' names were called.
"I just thought they were going to escort me out," Jonathan Orr told The Herald of Rock Hill. "I had no idea they were going to put andcuffs (sic) on me and take me to jail."
Orr, 21, spent two hours in jail after he was arrested when he yelled for his cousin at York's commencement at the Winthrop University Coliseum.
Rock Hill police began patrolling commencements several years ago at the request of school districts who complained of increasing disruption. Those attending graduations are told they can be prosecuted for bad behavior and letters are sent home with students, said Rock Hill police spokesman Lt. Jerry Waldrop.
All the cases, except for one that includes a resisting arrest charge, will be handled in city court and are punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Orr said he thinks people should be allowed to cheer.
"For some people, it might be the only member of their family to graduate high school, and it was like a funeral in there," Orr said.
William Massey, 19, was arrested but said he plans to fight the charge. He said he simply "clapped and gave a little whoop" when his fiancee's name was called. Massey said there were warnings before the ceremony but none that said he could be arrested.
He said not everyone who cheered was arrested.
"There's a lot more people that did it than six or seven," said Massey, who graduated from Fort Mill last year.
Fort Mill Principal Dee Christopher says school officials don't ask that offenders be arrested but that he plans to keep a police presence at future graduation ceremonies.
"We think it's important for every graduate's name to be heard and for every person in the arena to be able to see that student cross the stage. ... That's why we have disruptive guests removed," he said.
Last year in Galesburg, Illinois, five students were denied diplomas from the city's lone public high school after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during commencement. Students could get their diplomas after completing eight hours of public service for the school district.
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You have GOT to be kidding! This such BS that I can't believe even the fascist left would come up with it.
And I love this part...
Last year in Galesburg, Illinois, five students were denied diplomas from the city's lone public high school after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during commencement. Students could get their diplomas after completing eight hours of public service for the school district.
How the heck can you punish someone for anothers' actions! How can it even be considered legal?
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You know....if people weren't such "damned sheep" you wouldn't see this...it would be handled before the fascist could take center stage. If someone is being disruptive (over the top pain the rear, you know..) then handle it...this used not happen. When I was a kid people were considerate of others. Today they just want to smile to hide their scared ass and get along....then someone calls the police.
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Ken,
While I agree about the sheep (don't get 'involved' syndrome) it doesn't sound like this was 'over the top' actions.
I know when HazJr won a science fair this year that I had to give a cheer when he hit the stage (and yes they asked us to 'hold your applauseuntil the end'). Pretty much every family acknowledge their kid, just the whole audience didn't clap each person until the end.
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I think this is part of the that whole "zero tolerance" horse shit that allows bureaucrats to hide behind the "them's the rule" excuse and thus avoid having to make a decision (what's acceptable and what isn't) - like suspending a third grader because her purse has a chain handle on it. "Them's the rules." You might offend someone it you applied common sense. Yeesh!
But that's just me.
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What should most left-leaning universities expect? The school should be happy to release the next group of indoctrinated robots into the world and bring in the next ones. This is really getting to be a sad, sad, society.
Even Washington State wants to ban bonfires on the beach to curtail global warming! :o
Probably some liberal academic professor with an ecology degree, came up with that stroke of genius.