Racist words 'a stupid thing'
East officials call graffiti a prank but take action
John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News
Published September 20, 2007 at midnight
Several East High School students are facing disciplinary action after they were caught leaving racist graffiti on the floor and walls of the auditorium, school officials said Wednesday.
Both the students who were the targets of the graffiti and the students who were caught writing it are of the same race, said one teacher, who described the incident as being a stupid prank rather than a racist taunt. She declined to say what race.
"It was stupid kids doing a stupid thing," said Celeste Archer, a social studies teacher.
Prank or not, school officials are treating the incident with concern, East High Principal John R. Youngquist said in a letter to students and parents.
Youngquist wrote that the incident occurred Monday afternoon when a teacher entered the auditorium and discovered "racially offensive statements" that had been painted on the steps, a door and the stage floor.
One teacher saw a student running out of the auditorium and was able to identify the student, Youngquist wrote. The dean's office later was able to confirm the identity of several others involved in the incident. School officials would not say how many students were involved.
ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291
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