Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Hazing Incident at High School in Illinois

Aired May 09, 2003 - 07:09   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.


HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the hazing story in suburban, Chicago. Criminal charges could be filed today in connection with the high school hazing on Sunday.
Authorities are trying to determine if parents provided alcohol for the event, where some girls were beaten and covered with mud, paint and feces. As many as 100 students from Glenbrook North High School were said to be involved.

The school's principal says efforts are being made to discipline them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL RIGGLE, PRINCIPAL, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL: As of today, the school has starred to take disciplinary action, and that action has been in the area of extracurricular activities. All of the students who were involved in the incident are still in school. Suspensions have not taken place on the academic portion, which is an area we feel is outside our jurisdiction, and outside of what we legally can do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Now from Northbrook, Illinois, Michelle Parks, a sophomore at Glenbrook North High, who not present Sunday, along with her mother, who joins us, as I said, from Illinois.

Kim, I want to start with you. What do you think of what Principal Riggle just said?

KIM PARKS, MICHELLE'S MOTHER: Well, you know, in talking with several different parents, and also a principal of Michelle's old elementary school, I guess I begrudgingly accept the fact that we can't act on expelling these girls at this point. And when I attend the board meeting, the Board of Education Monday night, I would like to stress and request that we review current policies and rules, and possibly rewrite them to allow us a little bit more power if another situation like this should arise.

COLLINS: You graduated from...

K. PARKS: Because I...

COLLINS: I'm sorry. You graduated from the same high school...

K. PARKS: Yes, I did. COLLINS: ... back in 1978. Was any of this going on then?

K. PARKS: I actually participated in powder puff that was sponsored by school. It was affiliated with homecoming. And I guess -- I mean, I don't remember this, but they discontinued it in 1977. And they know last night...

COLLINS: Why do you think they did that?

K. PARKS: They stated it was due to roughness, and I don't recall any girls ever getting hurt. So, I tend to disagree with that statement.

COLLINS: All right, Kim, let me move on to you. Do you think criminal charges are appropriate for these kids?

K. PARKS: Absolutely, absolutely.

COLLINS: Michelle, what about you?

K. PARKS: And I just wish they would move...

MICHELLE PARKS, SOPHOMORE, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL: I kind of go both ways on that. It depends on what they did. Like, if they were just cheering, I don't think it's, like, they should get too harshly punished, because they're still growing up. We don't want to ruin their young lives. But those who were actually doing the beating, I do think they should get punished for what they did, because nobody deserves to be treated like that.

COLLINS: You're a sophomore, Michelle. And I'm wondering if you had been a junior, would you have gone to this? Would you have been nervous about it?

M. PARKS: No, I would not have gone. It's ridiculous. It's really not planned out, and the whole thing is just sneaky. I don't think it would be very smart to go.

COLLINS: How did you feel when you saw some of your friends participating in this?

M. PARKS: Kind of shocked. I didn't think they would. But not -- I wasn't really close with anyone who did it. They were just, like, acquaintances. I knew them from sports teams.

COLLINS: Kim, are you thinking of taking Michelle out of Glenbrook North High School?

K. PARKS: No. No, not at all. That's not even under consideration. It's a great school, and I think that's what we need to do, to put the focus back on. There are a lot of -- I mean, 1,900- plus good students. And I guess, I just wish some more parents would come forward and set examples for their kids to know that we have a problem on our hands and let's address it. And silence -- the code of silence does not send a very good message to people. COLLINS: All right, Michelle Parks, a sophomore at Glenbrook North High School, and her mother, Kim, thanks so much for being here to both of you.

K. PARKS: Thanks.

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 9, 2003 - 07:09   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Turning now to the hazing story in suburban, Chicago. Criminal charges could be filed today in connection with the high school hazing on Sunday.
Authorities are trying to determine if parents provided alcohol for the event, where some girls were beaten and covered with mud, paint and feces. As many as 100 students from Glenbrook North High School were said to be involved.

The school's principal says efforts are being made to discipline them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL RIGGLE, PRINCIPAL, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL: As of today, the school has starred to take disciplinary action, and that action has been in the area of extracurricular activities. All of the students who were involved in the incident are still in school. Suspensions have not taken place on the academic portion, which is an area we feel is outside our jurisdiction, and outside of what we legally can do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COLLINS: Now from Northbrook, Illinois, Michelle Parks, a sophomore at Glenbrook North High, who not present Sunday, along with her mother, who joins us, as I said, from Illinois.

Kim, I want to start with you. What do you think of what Principal Riggle just said?

KIM PARKS, MICHELLE'S MOTHER: Well, you know, in talking with several different parents, and also a principal of Michelle's old elementary school, I guess I begrudgingly accept the fact that we can't act on expelling these girls at this point. And when I attend the board meeting, the Board of Education Monday night, I would like to stress and request that we review current policies and rules, and possibly rewrite them to allow us a little bit more power if another situation like this should arise.

COLLINS: You graduated from...

K. PARKS: Because I...

COLLINS: I'm sorry. You graduated from the same high school...

K. PARKS: Yes, I did. COLLINS: ... back in 1978. Was any of this going on then?

K. PARKS: I actually participated in powder puff that was sponsored by school. It was affiliated with homecoming. And I guess -- I mean, I don't remember this, but they discontinued it in 1977. And they know last night...

COLLINS: Why do you think they did that?

K. PARKS: They stated it was due to roughness, and I don't recall any girls ever getting hurt. So, I tend to disagree with that statement.

COLLINS: All right, Kim, let me move on to you. Do you think criminal charges are appropriate for these kids?

K. PARKS: Absolutely, absolutely.

COLLINS: Michelle, what about you?

K. PARKS: And I just wish they would move...

MICHELLE PARKS, SOPHOMORE, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL: I kind of go both ways on that. It depends on what they did. Like, if they were just cheering, I don't think it's, like, they should get too harshly punished, because they're still growing up. We don't want to ruin their young lives. But those who were actually doing the beating, I do think they should get punished for what they did, because nobody deserves to be treated like that.

COLLINS: You're a sophomore, Michelle. And I'm wondering if you had been a junior, would you have gone to this? Would you have been nervous about it?

M. PARKS: No, I would not have gone. It's ridiculous. It's really not planned out, and the whole thing is just sneaky. I don't think it would be very smart to go.

COLLINS: How did you feel when you saw some of your friends participating in this?

M. PARKS: Kind of shocked. I didn't think they would. But not -- I wasn't really close with anyone who did it. They were just, like, acquaintances. I knew them from sports teams.

COLLINS: Kim, are you thinking of taking Michelle out of Glenbrook North High School?

K. PARKS: No. No, not at all. That's not even under consideration. It's a great school, and I think that's what we need to do, to put the focus back on. There are a lot of -- I mean, 1,900- plus good students. And I guess, I just wish some more parents would come forward and set examples for their kids to know that we have a problem on our hands and let's address it. And silence -- the code of silence does not send a very good message to people. COLLINS: All right, Michelle Parks, a sophomore at Glenbrook North High School, and her mother, Kim, thanks so much for being here to both of you.

K. PARKS: Thanks.

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