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American Morning
Students, Parents Face Hazing Charges
Aired June 11, 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In Chicago, 16 area high school students and two parents in court today to face charges stemming from last month's hazing in Northbrook, Illinois.
Jeff Flock is live in Skokie following that hearing and the latest from there now.
Jeff -- good morning.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good morning to you.
Thirty-three Glenbrook North high school seniors have already been suspended and expelled, 31 of them took a deal whereby they admitted responsibility in the hazing, and about half of them now face the more serious criminal charges. And how that will come down all begins to shake out today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FLOCK (voice-over): It will be another parade of Glenbrook North seniors -- most still don't have their diplomas -- to answer why they went wild five weeks ago. Though it looked back, 16 seniors are charged only with misdemeanors and some may plead guilty, though it is all complicated by the threat of civil suits that could be filed against them by the juniors who were hazed.
No juniors were charged criminally, but they have been punished by the school for taking part.
CHERYL DALEY, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR: Excuse my language, it's B.S.
FLOCK: Cheryl Daley is one of a group of juniors refusing to sign an agreement with the school admitting they broke school rules by participating, agreeing to no more hazing, to get counseling, be expelled if they get in trouble again, and not profit from the experience.
ROLLIN SOSKIN, ATTORNEY: They're victimizing the victims. They're not punishing the victims for their own self-interest.
FLOCK: Which lawyer Rollin Soskin tells us is to make the story go away. He says the deal amounts to a false confession.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I don't want to admit to doing something wrong, which I did nothing wrong.
FLOCK: Junior Lauren Wilner's (ph) mother tells us her daughter feels both humiliated and now attacked again.
SANDY WILNER, MOTHER: So, she feels that she's being victimized by the school, as well as previously being victimized by the seniors. She -- her mental status is tenuous, at best.
FLOCK: And speaking of mothers, also in court today the two mothers charged with supplying the beer for the binge. This one accused of buying it; this one of throwing a party before the event where the girls drank.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
And, Bill, again, misdemeanor charges, both battery as well as alcohol-related, maximum penalty up to a year in jail, but without a previous record, it is unlikely that anyone would get jail time, although you never know in this one.
Back to you.
HEMMER: Yes, so true. Do not know. Jeff Flock in Skokie.
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 June 11, 2003 - 07:09 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: In Chicago, 16 area high school students and two parents in court today to face charges stemming from last month's hazing in Northbrook, Illinois.
Jeff Flock is live in Skokie following that hearing and the latest from there now.
Jeff -- good morning.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, good morning to you.
Thirty-three Glenbrook North high school seniors have already been suspended and expelled, 31 of them took a deal whereby they admitted responsibility in the hazing, and about half of them now face the more serious criminal charges. And how that will come down all begins to shake out today.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FLOCK (voice-over): It will be another parade of Glenbrook North seniors -- most still don't have their diplomas -- to answer why they went wild five weeks ago. Though it looked back, 16 seniors are charged only with misdemeanors and some may plead guilty, though it is all complicated by the threat of civil suits that could be filed against them by the juniors who were hazed.
No juniors were charged criminally, but they have been punished by the school for taking part.
CHERYL DALEY, GLENBROOK NORTH HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR: Excuse my language, it's B.S.
FLOCK: Cheryl Daley is one of a group of juniors refusing to sign an agreement with the school admitting they broke school rules by participating, agreeing to no more hazing, to get counseling, be expelled if they get in trouble again, and not profit from the experience.
ROLLIN SOSKIN, ATTORNEY: They're victimizing the victims. They're not punishing the victims for their own self-interest.
FLOCK: Which lawyer Rollin Soskin tells us is to make the story go away. He says the deal amounts to a false confession.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I don't want to admit to doing something wrong, which I did nothing wrong.
FLOCK: Junior Lauren Wilner's (ph) mother tells us her daughter feels both humiliated and now attacked again.
SANDY WILNER, MOTHER: So, she feels that she's being victimized by the school, as well as previously being victimized by the seniors. She -- her mental status is tenuous, at best.
FLOCK: And speaking of mothers, also in court today the two mothers charged with supplying the beer for the binge. This one accused of buying it; this one of throwing a party before the event where the girls drank.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
And, Bill, again, misdemeanor charges, both battery as well as alcohol-related, maximum penalty up to a year in jail, but without a previous record, it is unlikely that anyone would get jail time, although you never know in this one.
Back to you.
HEMMER: Yes, so true. Do not know. Jeff Flock in Skokie.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
