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Interview With Principal of Glenbrook North High School

Aired May 07, 2003 - 14:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: An apparent case of hazing that went way too far in the Chicago area near a high school. It was supposed to be an indoctrination into a powder puff football game, but it became something else entirely.
Marcella Raymond of CNN affiliate WGN picks up the story for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was really no beginning actually. It is just the juniors came out, and then it all started, the hazing, which was just a bunch of ridiculous stuff thrown upon a bunch of girls who were kneeling.

MARCELLA RAYMOND, WGN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They said it was funny in the beginning, then it got violent. First, it was syrup and oil poured on the girls. Then it escalated to urine and feces, then empty buckets were thrown on them. That escalated to punches and kicks. About 100 students were watching. They say it was mayhem, and they could do nothing to stop it.

JOHN GEARY, STUDENT: I started out watching, but then I just -- I sat back and sat on the ground and watched, and I was just like, I don't agree with this. But there were so many people just all in a circle around it, like you can't really stop it.

RAYMOND: Students we talked with said this hazing has been a tradition with Glenbrook North High School students for years. It is not school-endorsed, and was done off school property on Sunday. The principal says the district takes a strong stance against this behavior.

MICHAEL RIGGLE, PRINCIPAL, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL: We work actively with our students to try to teach them what it means to respect other individuals and we talk about the impact that events such as hazing has on an individual person, and to see this go on as a resident of Northbrook, and also as a principal of the high school, I'm very sad.

RAYMOND: One of the girls had to get stitches, another broke her ankle. This girl helped her get home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First of all, obviously, I'm angry that this happened. I'm disgusted, I'm appalled, 100 percent. I'm embarrassed to say that I go to Glenbrook North High School because of this. It's disgusting. For the best money that education can buy, this is what happens at our school. I just think that it is all disgusting.

RAYMOND: Still, there are others who say it's all done in fun. This sophomore hopes to be a part of it next year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know. I just think it's tradition. It will be fun.

RAYMOND (on camera): So you like being punched, kicked, things thrown at you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think that this is going to be like that next year. I think they are going to change it into just a regular football game after all of this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: That was from Marcella Raymond of our affiliate WGN in Chicago, and we thank her and them for that. It's kind of a sad story.

Joining us now to talk a little bit more about it is the principal of that school, Glenbrook North High School, Dr. Michael Riggle. Dr. Riggle, good to have you with us.

RIGGLE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Now, first of all, this event occurred off the premises of the school. I suppose there is a jurisdictional question here. Is this something that is a matter for the principal, or is it for the police department?

RIGGLE: Well, the jurisdiction for the school is very limited. We cannot take a look at suspensions that would affect their academic career, so the jurisdiction really falls now down to the sheriff's department, and we're cooperating fully, and we're hoping that the court system will come in and work with the school. The school is going to be looking at penalties to students that would involve extracurricular activities, because students do sign a code of conduct as they participate in some of our events.

O'BRIEN: When you say there is nothing you can do that would affect their academic record, explain that, please.

RIGGLE: Well, students have a right to go to school, and so there is a difference between a right and a privilege. Participation in extracurricular activities is considered a privilege, and there is a different set of rules for that.

O'BRIEN: What crime might be -- might have been violated, or might have been committed at that location?

RIGGLE: That's hard, really, for me to determine because that's not really my -- my area. I feel that the behavior that went on was certainly extreme, and I think that it does get into the point of criminal actions.

O'BRIEN: You do?

RIGGLE: Yes.

O'BRIEN: So you think -- should charges be pressed? I assume you know most of these seniors. By now, you know them pretty well.

RIGGLE: We know them pretty well, but we also recognize the situation, and you can look at the behavior that went on, and the school is fully supportive of prosecution at this point.

O'BRIEN: And let the chips fall where they may?

RIGGLE: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: How surprised were you that this occurred? I know that there were problems with this, apparently, over the years, such that it was moved off campus.

RIGGLE: Well, back in about 1979, there were problems, and the school decided that it no longer wanted powder puff football as an activity, as a fund-raiser. And so, since that time, this has all been generated by students.

And from year to year, the school tries to inform, whenever it can learn that a situation would occur like this powder puff game, but I'm not sure that the staff and the students here or the parents in the community realized the level at which this has gotten in the last couple of years, and quite honestly, we were shocked, as everyone else was, when we looked at this videotape.

O'BRIEN: Let me ask you this. For many people watching outside of your part of the world, is there a word to the wise here, perhaps some warning for some parents who might think this is unheard of for high school students? I mean, I suppose we associate hazing, for better or worse, with rushing at colleges and the Greek system, but it can happen elsewhere, can't it?

RIGGLE: I think the word of warning is this can happen to anyone at any time, and I think that everyone has to be diligent in taking proactive measures. We have to educate. But the schools -- we need parents, and we need other governmental agencies working hand in hand with us to set up conditions where it makes it less likely for these things to occur, and here in Northbrook, this activity needs to end.

O'BRIEN: And just quickly, what did you say to the students today?

RIGGLE: We've been working with students more individually with an ongoing investigation, and we're working with students who are angry, upset for a variety of reasons. So the school has got a lot of emotions running right now, and what we are trying to do is sort out individually what our needs are with different students.

O'BRIEN: Dr. Michael Riggle, the principal of Glenbrook North High School. We're sorry that your school year ended this way. We wish you well. RIGGLE: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired May 7, 2003 - 14:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: An apparent case of hazing that went way too far in the Chicago area near a high school. It was supposed to be an indoctrination into a powder puff football game, but it became something else entirely.
Marcella Raymond of CNN affiliate WGN picks up the story for us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was really no beginning actually. It is just the juniors came out, and then it all started, the hazing, which was just a bunch of ridiculous stuff thrown upon a bunch of girls who were kneeling.

MARCELLA RAYMOND, WGN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They said it was funny in the beginning, then it got violent. First, it was syrup and oil poured on the girls. Then it escalated to urine and feces, then empty buckets were thrown on them. That escalated to punches and kicks. About 100 students were watching. They say it was mayhem, and they could do nothing to stop it.

JOHN GEARY, STUDENT: I started out watching, but then I just -- I sat back and sat on the ground and watched, and I was just like, I don't agree with this. But there were so many people just all in a circle around it, like you can't really stop it.

RAYMOND: Students we talked with said this hazing has been a tradition with Glenbrook North High School students for years. It is not school-endorsed, and was done off school property on Sunday. The principal says the district takes a strong stance against this behavior.

MICHAEL RIGGLE, PRINCIPAL, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL: We work actively with our students to try to teach them what it means to respect other individuals and we talk about the impact that events such as hazing has on an individual person, and to see this go on as a resident of Northbrook, and also as a principal of the high school, I'm very sad.

RAYMOND: One of the girls had to get stitches, another broke her ankle. This girl helped her get home.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First of all, obviously, I'm angry that this happened. I'm disgusted, I'm appalled, 100 percent. I'm embarrassed to say that I go to Glenbrook North High School because of this. It's disgusting. For the best money that education can buy, this is what happens at our school. I just think that it is all disgusting.

RAYMOND: Still, there are others who say it's all done in fun. This sophomore hopes to be a part of it next year.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know. I just think it's tradition. It will be fun.

RAYMOND (on camera): So you like being punched, kicked, things thrown at you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't think that this is going to be like that next year. I think they are going to change it into just a regular football game after all of this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

O'BRIEN: That was from Marcella Raymond of our affiliate WGN in Chicago, and we thank her and them for that. It's kind of a sad story.

Joining us now to talk a little bit more about it is the principal of that school, Glenbrook North High School, Dr. Michael Riggle. Dr. Riggle, good to have you with us.

RIGGLE: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: Now, first of all, this event occurred off the premises of the school. I suppose there is a jurisdictional question here. Is this something that is a matter for the principal, or is it for the police department?

RIGGLE: Well, the jurisdiction for the school is very limited. We cannot take a look at suspensions that would affect their academic career, so the jurisdiction really falls now down to the sheriff's department, and we're cooperating fully, and we're hoping that the court system will come in and work with the school. The school is going to be looking at penalties to students that would involve extracurricular activities, because students do sign a code of conduct as they participate in some of our events.

O'BRIEN: When you say there is nothing you can do that would affect their academic record, explain that, please.

RIGGLE: Well, students have a right to go to school, and so there is a difference between a right and a privilege. Participation in extracurricular activities is considered a privilege, and there is a different set of rules for that.

O'BRIEN: What crime might be -- might have been violated, or might have been committed at that location?

RIGGLE: That's hard, really, for me to determine because that's not really my -- my area. I feel that the behavior that went on was certainly extreme, and I think that it does get into the point of criminal actions.

O'BRIEN: You do?

RIGGLE: Yes.

O'BRIEN: So you think -- should charges be pressed? I assume you know most of these seniors. By now, you know them pretty well.

RIGGLE: We know them pretty well, but we also recognize the situation, and you can look at the behavior that went on, and the school is fully supportive of prosecution at this point.

O'BRIEN: And let the chips fall where they may?

RIGGLE: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: How surprised were you that this occurred? I know that there were problems with this, apparently, over the years, such that it was moved off campus.

RIGGLE: Well, back in about 1979, there were problems, and the school decided that it no longer wanted powder puff football as an activity, as a fund-raiser. And so, since that time, this has all been generated by students.

And from year to year, the school tries to inform, whenever it can learn that a situation would occur like this powder puff game, but I'm not sure that the staff and the students here or the parents in the community realized the level at which this has gotten in the last couple of years, and quite honestly, we were shocked, as everyone else was, when we looked at this videotape.

O'BRIEN: Let me ask you this. For many people watching outside of your part of the world, is there a word to the wise here, perhaps some warning for some parents who might think this is unheard of for high school students? I mean, I suppose we associate hazing, for better or worse, with rushing at colleges and the Greek system, but it can happen elsewhere, can't it?

RIGGLE: I think the word of warning is this can happen to anyone at any time, and I think that everyone has to be diligent in taking proactive measures. We have to educate. But the schools -- we need parents, and we need other governmental agencies working hand in hand with us to set up conditions where it makes it less likely for these things to occur, and here in Northbrook, this activity needs to end.

O'BRIEN: And just quickly, what did you say to the students today?

RIGGLE: We've been working with students more individually with an ongoing investigation, and we're working with students who are angry, upset for a variety of reasons. So the school has got a lot of emotions running right now, and what we are trying to do is sort out individually what our needs are with different students.

O'BRIEN: Dr. Michael Riggle, the principal of Glenbrook North High School. We're sorry that your school year ended this way. We wish you well. RIGGLE: Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com