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Bullying target back in school

The Rocky

Published February 21, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.
Updated February 21, 2008 at 12:07 p.m.

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Adrian Ulm, 14, an eighth-grader at West Middle School, and his father, Heinz, talk about the bullying that Adrian has endured. They moved to the United States from Germany in 2005, and school bullies have called them Nazis.

Photo by Darin McGregor / The Rocky

Adrian Ulm, 14, an eighth-grader at West Middle School, and his father, Heinz, talk about the bullying that Adrian has endured. They moved to the United States from Germany in 2005, and school bullies have called them Nazis.

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Bullying victim Adrian Ulm, joined by his father and lawyer, met with Cherry Creek school district officials Wednesday to insure a smooth transition back to school after his complaints of racial harassment made him a national symbol of discrimination.

"The meeting was to make sure Adrian integrated into the school again," said his father, Heinz Ulm, owner of an information technology company in Centennial. Ulm, 58, is a single father who emigrated from Germany to the U.S. with his son in 2005.

Because of the President's Day holiday, Wednesday was the first day of school since the Ulms publicized a catalogue of torments they say 14-year-old Adrian has suffered from a small number — he describes them as "two handfuls" — of classmates, including repeated taunts that he and his father are Nazis. The escalating tensions at West Middle School led to a confrontation with a student in November in which Adrian sustained a broken collarbone and other injuries.

Because the story has drawn waves of sympathy and media exposure for Adrian, his father says he went into Wednesday's meeting worried that his son might be in for even more harassment. Going public, he said, "That's not in, like exposing yourself on TV. It seems to be not accepted by this age group."

However, the meeting went smoothly, he said, adding that Adrian also agreed to do his part to mitigate tensions: "They (school officials) wanted to make sure Adrian keeps low profile and doesn't get into any arguments, etcetera."

The school also sent a letter home to all parents discussing the issue of bullying and that it won't be tolerated. In addition, the school district has been closely involved. It has expelled the student who injured Adrian in the November fight and has issued official warnings to several more.

Heinz Ulm said he's still weighing a lawsuit — perhaps using the new hate-crime statute — to recover damages for the injuries Adrian suffered in November.

Ulm says he's also taken a new tact by starting a website and a nonprofit foundation called fightbullying.org. which he's seeded with $1,500 to develop programs and resources to solve the problem, which pervades many schools.

"I see Adrian now as one of many, many thousands of kids being bullied," his father said. "Now I think it's somehow my duty and responsibility not to just fight for myself but for them."

Comments

  • February 21, 2008

    12:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Eric writes:

    Good luck Dude!

  • February 21, 2008

    1:42 p.m.

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    Lonestar writes:

    It's embarrassing that some of our own children don't have a better historical perspective. The Nazis were the evil of their time, but not all Germans were Nazis obviously. The German's have been our allies for years, duh! They make great cars. This kid's dad was not even born until after WWII was over. Maybe Adrian was going to get bullied regardless, and his German heritage was just an easy thing to single out? Whatever the reason, I feel bad for him. What's next, are British kids going to get bullied for setting the White House on fire in 1812?

  • February 21, 2008

    4:50 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Francesca writes:

    ... Ulm says he's also taken a new tact by starting a website and a nonprofit foundation called fightbullying.org. which he's seeded with $1,500 to develop programs and resources to solve the problem...

    Interesting.

  • February 21, 2008

    4:57 p.m.

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    Squatch writes:

    Good luck Adrian. Dont let that kid keep you down. Sad part is everyday kids of all colors have to take crap like this one day this country will grow up but since OUR on government makes us all classify ourselves as a certain race instead of American. I Apoligize for my smart A$$ remarks yesterday that i made about this story since it is a Real serious deal.

    We all have to classify ourselves as either Afican-American, Asian-American, Mexican-American and White. My Great Grandfather fought in WWI, Great Grandfather in WWI & Korean War and my family dates back to the early 1800's from New Mexico so i shouldnt have to say im Mexican-American when applying for a job IM AMERICAN.

  • February 21, 2008

    6:03 p.m.

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    MollysDad writes:

    Adrian,

    My father is from Gemany. He raised me and my two brothers to be respectful of our heritage and of the U.S. Take pride in the fact that you are a German who gets the privledge to live in America. There are many in Germany who would love the opportunity to live in America but cannot, whether the reason is financial or otherwise. Hold your head high and be proud not only of where you are from, but even more importantly; where you are going. This is the greatest country in the world where if you really want to do something you will be able to. In a few more years your accent will fade and noone will question where you are from. Your schoolmates will all think that you are an American, and you will be. All the good things in life will never come to you easy.

    God Bless and keep the faith!

  • February 21, 2008

    8:49 p.m.

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    MissSio writes:

    Squatch, that has got to be one of the smarter things I've read from you on here. (note, I don't read faithfully or everything, so I'm sure I've missed lots)

    I got into this discussion with my husband the other night, while watching the cbs show jericho. In that show, terrorists or someone attack the US, sending everything into chaos, and a new government arises. With a new name. And a new flag, a bastardization of our great flag. We both agreed that we would, in a similar situation, not stand for that. We are Americans! I'm third generation Irish, but I don't identify as an Irish-American. I'm American. And it doesn't matter if you are just here from *insert country*, if you are here legally and become a citizen, you are an American too, accent or no.

    If only we could as a society come together as Americans and not these self-segregated groups, we could do amazing things...

    Finally, as a former target for bullying, I feel for Adrian. It's not easy being teased and ridiculed constantly. I'm astonished that things are still being able to escalate to the point of physical altercations! I would have thought there would be better support systems in place to prevent such a thing. I like the father's idea of starting that website, though a sympathetic web guru should help him out a wee bit. Best of luck to them both!

  • February 21, 2008

    9:17 p.m.

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    JackMcCoy writes:

    Why is this news worthy? A dorky kid getting beat up in middle school? Yeah, that happens everyday everywhere. Either toughen up or go home. I feel bad for the 'bullies'

  • February 22, 2008

    9:18 a.m.

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    Squatch writes:

    Sorry i meant "Grandfather in WWII & Korean War " I didnt want to get criticized for in accuracies. We should all be proud of our family heritage but should be even prouder of being AMERICAN.