Reporting on Off-Campus Party Paints Negative Light on JFK
Posted on 16. Mar, 2010 by author in Miscellaneous
By Shri Tanna
On Thursday, March 11, over 100 students were caught at an underage drinking party during school hours. Neighbors alerted authorities about the party and a suspicious teacher at Kennedy alerted the schools’ administration. After processing by Montgomery County police, the students who were not charged and were not picked up by parents were brought back to school on a bus.
Students from Kennedy, Wheaton, Einstein, and Northwood high schools attended the party. Seventeen alcohol and two drug citations were given out by the police. Witnesses say there were up to 24 police cars at the party’s address.
Although four schools were involved, only Kennedy’s building and marquee were shown on WRC-TV’s news report for a total of four different views. Some students at Kennedy are also upset by the tone of the television report.
“As an African American, I am offended by the news reporter’s comments in the video,” said Bruce Campbell, a senior who did not attend the party.
The reporter said that the kids “scattered like roaches.” Students are still sensitive to the characterization of Kennedy by the press after the Facebook fight last fall.
Students who attended have a right to privacy as they are minors but it is known they will be serving detentions during the week and on the weekends for the infractions. Those who were charged with alcohol or drugs will be handled through the court system.
You’ve got to be kidding me about the, “As an African American…” victimization bull crap. This student is more worried about painting a picture that there was suttle racism within the news channels reporting than the fact that 100 students were caught at a during school-time party and how outrageous that is. Nobody in the news, press or any coverage brought up anything along the lines of racism, but a student feels the need to bring up that he is an African American. What does that have to do with anything? Also, detention is the least that should have been done. Every parent of every student should have been called and notified. If you have ever been in detention you know that detention these days is useless. Something else should be done to remind these kids they are kids and students. Unfortunately, discipline starts at home.