Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Students Involved in Illinois Hazing Expelled From School
Aired May 12, 2003 - 15:31 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS. CNN ANCHOR: Academically, it's the ultimate punishment. But for those high school hazers in suburban Chicago, the worst may be yet to come.
And it will come, quite possibly at the hands of prosecutors and police for whom that girl-on-girl attack was from a teenage prank. Police are interviewing students and parents to expect to file charges this week.
We now going to CNN's Jeff Flock in Glenview. He joins me now with the latest -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Indeed, Kyra, as you report, this is just the first phase. This is discipline by the school. Criminal charges still pending.
Now we just talked to perhaps the most outspoken parent who was arguing for strong discipline from the school. Kim Parks told us she was watching on CNN. She said I was very happy, I was literally jumping up and down when I saw the action that the school today took against those students.
Now here is what they did. They have announced they will suspend all of those students who were responsible for the hazing, and they will recommend the expulsion of anyone as well who was participating. Those students, we are told, have already been informed and they have been escorted already from the Glenbrook North High School building. They will have the opportunity to get alternative education and to get their diploma, but they will not graduate with their class. And according to the principal, they will not again be allowed on school grounds.
The principal now, Mike Riggle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCIPAL MICHAEL RIGGLE, GLENBROOK NORTH H.S.: Expulsion means the students can no longer attend classes, enter the school campus, or attend school sponsored activities. This will include attendance at the prom and participation in graduation ceremonies and related activities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: Now, all of those who have been suspended and are being recommended for expulsion at this point are seniors, those people who perpetrated or apparently perpetrated this hazing. But we have since learned that some of the juniors, some of the apparent victims of this hazing, also may be liable at some point for some sort of punishment, perhaps even suspension or expulsion themselves.
This is a copy of the Illinois state code, which makes reference to the prohibition of secret societies, school officials suggesting that perhaps this initiation rite, this hazing, sort of sounds an awful like a sorority or secret society and that could lead to juniors, for having agreed to participate in this in some way, also liable for some sort of discipline.
Now, Kyra, as you mentioned, this comes in addition to whatever criminal penalties might be imposed. We are told that investigators are now at the school, have been today, interviewing students. There may be also criminal charges against the students or perhaps against the parents.
You asked earlier today about the alcohol issue. According to Northbrook police, we talked to the Northbrook police. They say they have so far anonymous reports that patents provided the alcohol. They have no one on record thus far . They're asking for people to come forward and be on the record. But the Northbrook deputy chief told me that he has the names of some people who are believed to be implicated in providing the alcohol. So they're investigating that now and I think it's fair to say they're looking at that avenue for charge as well.
That's the latest from here. I'm in Glenview, Illinois. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: And Jeff I -- that is a question I had for you. Thank you for answering that. You can't help but look at the videotape and see a number of adults, wondering also if they will be held responsible. It wasn't just students that appeared in that videotape.
FLOCK: The principal was asked what about the ones who were seen just observing and not jumping in? At this point, he indicates no discipline, no suspension, no expulsion for those who were just watching. But he said that he would be working with those or they'd be working with those students to try and indicate that they should, in fact, have somehow gotten involved.
PHILLIPS: All right. Our Jeff Flock from Glenview. Thanks so 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 12, 2003 - 15:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS. CNN ANCHOR: Academically, it's the ultimate punishment. But for those high school hazers in suburban Chicago, the worst may be yet to come.
And it will come, quite possibly at the hands of prosecutors and police for whom that girl-on-girl attack was from a teenage prank. Police are interviewing students and parents to expect to file charges this week.
We now going to CNN's Jeff Flock in Glenview. He joins me now with the latest -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CHICAGO BUREAU CHIEF: Indeed, Kyra, as you report, this is just the first phase. This is discipline by the school. Criminal charges still pending.
Now we just talked to perhaps the most outspoken parent who was arguing for strong discipline from the school. Kim Parks told us she was watching on CNN. She said I was very happy, I was literally jumping up and down when I saw the action that the school today took against those students.
Now here is what they did. They have announced they will suspend all of those students who were responsible for the hazing, and they will recommend the expulsion of anyone as well who was participating. Those students, we are told, have already been informed and they have been escorted already from the Glenbrook North High School building. They will have the opportunity to get alternative education and to get their diploma, but they will not graduate with their class. And according to the principal, they will not again be allowed on school grounds.
The principal now, Mike Riggle.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCIPAL MICHAEL RIGGLE, GLENBROOK NORTH H.S.: Expulsion means the students can no longer attend classes, enter the school campus, or attend school sponsored activities. This will include attendance at the prom and participation in graduation ceremonies and related activities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: Now, all of those who have been suspended and are being recommended for expulsion at this point are seniors, those people who perpetrated or apparently perpetrated this hazing. But we have since learned that some of the juniors, some of the apparent victims of this hazing, also may be liable at some point for some sort of punishment, perhaps even suspension or expulsion themselves.
This is a copy of the Illinois state code, which makes reference to the prohibition of secret societies, school officials suggesting that perhaps this initiation rite, this hazing, sort of sounds an awful like a sorority or secret society and that could lead to juniors, for having agreed to participate in this in some way, also liable for some sort of discipline.
Now, Kyra, as you mentioned, this comes in addition to whatever criminal penalties might be imposed. We are told that investigators are now at the school, have been today, interviewing students. There may be also criminal charges against the students or perhaps against the parents.
You asked earlier today about the alcohol issue. According to Northbrook police, we talked to the Northbrook police. They say they have so far anonymous reports that patents provided the alcohol. They have no one on record thus far . They're asking for people to come forward and be on the record. But the Northbrook deputy chief told me that he has the names of some people who are believed to be implicated in providing the alcohol. So they're investigating that now and I think it's fair to say they're looking at that avenue for charge as well.
That's the latest from here. I'm in Glenview, Illinois. Kyra, back to you.
PHILLIPS: And Jeff I -- that is a question I had for you. Thank you for answering that. You can't help but look at the videotape and see a number of adults, wondering also if they will be held responsible. It wasn't just students that appeared in that videotape.
FLOCK: The principal was asked what about the ones who were seen just observing and not jumping in? At this point, he indicates no discipline, no suspension, no expulsion for those who were just watching. But he said that he would be working with those or they'd be working with those students to try and indicate that they should, in fact, have somehow gotten involved.
PHILLIPS: All right. Our Jeff Flock from Glenview. Thanks so 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
