Seth Pickens
Features Editor
At the Costa home football game on Sept. 30, a group of Manhattan Beach Middle School students attacked Culver City High School’s football team and cheer squad by throwing items at them and repeatedly shouting the “N-word.”
The district made sure to swiftly deal with the issue by working with local authorities. According to Superintendent Dr. John Bowes’ newsletter, the students involved have been punished for their actions, but specific information on their punishment has been withheld for legal reasons.
“District and school officials have conducted a thorough and full investigation in conjunction with the Manhattan Beach Police Department school resource officers who serve MBUSD schools,” said Dr. Bowes. “This has resulted in disciplinary consequences. The law prevents us from sharing specific details involving the discipline of students, but we can share that this incident has been taken very seriously.”
The specifics of each student’s punishment is confidential, as the law prohibits the school from sharing any details. The types of consequences, however, may be discolsed to prevent acts like this in the future.
“They are not allowed to come to any Costa football games moving forward,” said Vice Principal Amanda Vavao. “When students are disrespectful is when the administration and district limit their ability to come to events.”
In an effort to apologize for the actions of the students, MBUSD staff has been in contact with Culver City High School. Costa’s psychologist, Janet Allen, started a letter writing project to express Costa students’ condolences for the hateful actions against Culver students.
“Coming back to work Monday after the incident, we were all appalled to hear that that type of behavior represented Mira Costa High School,” Allen said. “I started this letter writing campaign to let Culver City High School know that we apologize for what they experienced at our school.”
As a result of the incident, the district has implemented new rules regarding the attendance of middle and elementary school students at Costa’s football games. Bowes hopes these new rules will prevent a repeat of the events.
“MBMS students will be permitted to attend Costa football games only if accompanied by a parent,” Bowes said. “MBMS students must present their school identification card prior to entry to Waller Stadium and keep it with them at all times.”
This incident has shone light on the ineffectiveness of the district’s anti-hate campaign, according to Bowes. The actions of these students has made it evident that MBUSD’s no-tolerance policy for hate needs to be implemented more effectively.
“It is apparent we need to continue to reinforce and provide more learning opportunities about embracing everyone, including guests and visitors, in our community,” Bowes stated. “School leaders across the district, and in particular at MBMS, are planning a number of student and parent education programs.”
According to Allen, this instance of racism, in addition to previous incidents of racism and anti-Semitism at Costa, shows a trend of discrimination throughout the community. Members of the community, like Allen, don’t want discrimination to represent Manhattan Beach.
“We do not promote acts of hate, hate speech, or anything that would make someone feel unwelcome at our campus,” said Allen. “It’s time for us to speak up and advocate that the ignorance of these students does not represent all of us.”
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