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Whitewashing the Incident

On April 21, the Courier published an article whose bold headline across two pages proclaimed, “Report of Threat at High School Remains Uncorroborated.” This article had the effect of whitewashing the incendiary incident in which a student wore a gas mask at Guilford High School and was observed in multiple locations, including, but not limited to, study hall and the cafeteria.

The mere fact that the student wore a gas mask to school was, by its very nature, a threatening act, a fact unacknowledged by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Freeman and Chief of Police Butch Hyatt. That should have been sufficient cause for disciplinary suspension, yet no such action was immediately taken against the student who was back in school the next day. Naturally, the needs of a troubled youth must be addressed, but also weighed against the safety of students at the school. We have witnessed too many tragic incidents nationally in which school officials failed to respond to clear warning signs to simply gloss over this incident.

The fact that one student in study hall submitted a signed statement to the police, under penalty of perjury, that he heard the threatening language against Jews should be taken seriously and constitute initial corroboration. Were other students in that study hall not interviewed? We do know, however, that multiple students were asked by school officials to delete the photo of the gas mask wearing student from their cellphones, which I believe constitutes destruction of evidence.

It is revealing that the article quotes Freeman ad nauseum regarding the lack of corroboration and, specifically, that “neither the school nor the police have any credible or corroborated firsthand reports of any threats being made.” Yet, ironically, while dismissing the proffered testimony, he encourages others to come forward.

Kendall Svengalis

Guilford