Racial Hate Crime at MSSD? Police Investigation
For the last several days, rumors swirled around about an innocent play among the high school students escalating to a violent end. MSSD made it official with a memo this afternoon posted below
From ABC 7 News: “The students in question allegedly tied up the victim and drew a swastika into his head” http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1007/460697.html
From CBS 9 News: “Police Chief Cathy Lanier says a black student was held against his will for about an hour early Sunday in a dorm room by other students at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf.
Lanier says the students used a marker to write ‘KKK’ and draw swastikas on the student. They then let him go and he contacted authorities” Â WUSA9.com | Hate Crime At Gallaudet?
The MSSD’s quick handling of the case is commendable. They didn’t bury it… unlike people in Jena, LA who ignored the racial significance of the nooses hanging from a tree, causing a rising of racial tension and a brutal beating of a Caucasian student by African American students in retaliation later, as alleged by some people. MZ
MSSD Official Memo:
From: Dr. Katherine A. Jankowski [mailto:ClercCenterDean@gallaudet.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:45 PM
To: katherine.jankowski@gallaudet.edu
Subject: Recent Situation at MSSD
October 3, 2007
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Campus Community:
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I would like to bring to your attention a serious incident that occurred last Saturday at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD).
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On Saturday, September 29, several students in one of the dorms were involved in what began as a game and turned into acts with racial implications that led to seven students being sent home. While no injuries were sustained, an investigation is ongoing. MSSD and the Clerc Center do not tolerate any acts of threatening behavior.
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As the nation addresses racism in schools, MSSD has hired an external consultant, Larry Bell, with expertise in addressing these issues with teenagers. Mr. Bell is Director of the National Coalition-Building Institute’s (NCBI) District of Columbia Chapter and Regional Director (Mid-Atlantic Region) of NCBI International. He has been a Senior Associate, Trainer, and Member of the Bo ard of NCBI International for over 8 years and a Senior Leader of the African Heritage Caucus. His areas of expertise include prejudice reduction, conflict resolution, team-building, and violence prevention. Mr. Bell and the DC NCBI Chapter have been involved in an effort to help youth by teaching skills in prejudice reduction and coalition building to high school students and other young people. We are working in partnership with University and Clerc Center personnel with expertise in multiculturalism and diversity.Â
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On Monday, teachers and staff have hosted an open dialogue and a school-wide assembly with students related to this recent incident. Individual and group counseling services are also available as needed for students, teachers, and staff. We are committed to ensuring MSSD is a safe and supportive learning environment.
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The Clerc Center recognizes that education related to racism, prejudice, and other forms of oppression is a critical part of every student’s development. Academic activities since the start of the school year have included: dedicated time for open dialogues on the Jena 6 and the ‘Freedom Writers’ movie which both explore racism in schools; two school-wide assemblies; and small group discussions focused on social justice and respect for one’s self and others. Students have also participated in ‘Mix-it-up Lunches’ where designated seating assignments at lunch encourage cross-cultural socialization while also discussing issues related to racism and prejudice. These activities, as well as others, will continue to be an integral part of the Clerc Center ’s programs and services.
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The administration is taking this event very seriously and appreciates the community’s support as we work together to address issues of racism with students of all ages on our campus.
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Sincerely,
Katherine A. Jankowski, PhD
Dean, Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
For the last several days, rumors swirled around about an innocent play among the high school students escalating to a violent end. MSSD made it official with a memo this afternoon posted below
From ABC 7 News: “The students in question allegedly tied up the victim and drew a swastika into his head” http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1007/460697.html
From CBS 9 News: “Police Chief Cathy Lanier says a black student was held against his will for about an hour early Sunday in a dorm room by other students at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf.
Lanier says the students used a marker to write ‘KKK’ and draw swastikas on the student. They then let him go and he contacted authorities” Â WUSA9.com | Hate Crime At Gallaudet?
The MSSD’s quick handling of the case is commendable. They didn’t bury it… unlike people in Jena, LA who ignored the racial significance of the nooses hanging from a tree, causing a rising of racial tension and a brutal beating of a Caucasian student by African American students in retaliation later, as alleged by some people. MZ
MSSD Official Memo:
From: Dr. Katherine A. Jankowski [mailto:ClercCenterDean@gallaudet.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2007 2:45 PM
To: katherine.jankowski@gallaudet.edu
Subject: Recent Situation at MSSD
October 3, 2007
Â
Campus Community:
Â
I would like to bring to your attention a serious incident that occurred last Saturday at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD).
Â
On Saturday, September 29, several students in one of the dorms were involved in what began as a game and turned into acts with racial implications that led to seven students being sent home. While no injuries were sustained, an investigation is ongoing. MSSD and the Clerc Center do not tolerate any acts of threatening behavior.
Â
As the nation addresses racism in schools, MSSD has hired an external consultant, Larry Bell, with expertise in addressing these issues with teenagers. Mr. Bell is Director of the National Coalition-Building Institute’s (NCBI) District of Columbia Chapter and Regional Director (Mid-Atlantic Region) of NCBI International. He has been a Senior Associate, Trainer, and Member of the Bo ard of NCBI International for over 8 years and a Senior Leader of the African Heritage Caucus. His areas of expertise include prejudice reduction, conflict resolution, team-building, and violence prevention. Mr. Bell and the DC NCBI Chapter have been involved in an effort to help youth by teaching skills in prejudice reduction and coalition building to high school students and other young people. We are working in partnership with University and Clerc Center personnel with expertise in multiculturalism and diversity.Â
Â
On Monday, teachers and staff have hosted an open dialogue and a school-wide assembly with students related to this recent incident. Individual and group counseling services are also available as needed for students, teachers, and staff. We are committed to ensuring MSSD is a safe and supportive learning environment.
Â
The Clerc Center recognizes that education related to racism, prejudice, and other forms of oppression is a critical part of every student’s development. Academic activities since the start of the school year have included: dedicated time for open dialogues on the Jena 6 and the ‘Freedom Writers’ movie which both explore racism in schools; two school-wide assemblies; and small group discussions focused on social justice and respect for one’s self and others. Students have also participated in ‘Mix-it-up Lunches’ where designated seating assignments at lunch encourage cross-cultural socialization while also discussing issues related to racism and prejudice. These activities, as well as others, will continue to be an integral part of the Clerc Center ’s programs and services.
Â
The administration is taking this event very seriously and appreciates the community’s support as we work together to address issues of racism with students of all ages on our campus.
Â
Â
Sincerely,
Katherine A. Jankowski, PhD
Dean, Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:59 pm
here’s the link over at cnn. it made today’s front page.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/03/deafschool.racial.incident/index.html
what is the nation coming to?
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:20 pm
Too bad the news keeps mentioning Gallaudet because this happened at MSSD. This is a serious incident and the students involved will be severly punished for what they did. I also admire Steve Weiner whos been very proactive in leading the MSSD community through the healing process.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:03 pm
One of the seven suspects is Black. Man, how stupidddddd is that? Don’t he know what KKK stand for?
Kick them in jail and throw away the key. Stupid kids! Bring more negative coverage to Gallaudet.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:29 am
An African American student to another African American student? Utterly inconceivable!
October 4th, 2007 at 12:51 am
That’s why I don’t believe it was a hate crime, per se. Write it off to innocent, ignorant youth. The media sensationalism surrounding this incident angers me more.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I’m very excited that this news is breaking out.
I see MSSD as a breeding ground of hate like a boot camp. Thats where future soldiers of American Sign Language (ASL) learn their tricks. Once they pass the ‘crucible’, through the Kappa Gamma fraternity, they learn how to export scourge and oppression upon deaf groups and people who do not use or embrace ASL.
Getting the spotlight on the recent MSSD incident is a very positive step toward eliminating this particular breeding ground that has farmed, sponsored, and encouraged hate toward people and groups who dont use or support ASL.
Richard Roehm
October 4th, 2007 at 11:12 am
To Richard Roehm,
When will you get off the high horse and get a drip? What does Kappa Gamma fraternity had to do with it?
To everyone:
Quite honestly, I, myself, were former oral student, learned sign language at Gally and learned ASL thru various social outlets but not at Gally, thought those seven suspects are probably pro-ASL students mocking at weak-asl user (I said this because this is what I see at Gally many times e.g. index finger sign like “hearing” at the forehead, need to say any more?) in which ending up this incident.
I suspect that Black student who is one of the seven suspects probably is ignorant and didn’t have any clue what “KKK” and swastika mean but go along with six White students (obviously know what KKK and swastika mean) under peer pressure situation. I am not surprising this happening under peer pressure where there is support for pro-ASL students. Again, this is all speculation on my part.
What bothering me is Katherine A. Jankowski’s message indicating there are no injuries were sustained during this accident!!! Is she blind to emotional and mental injuries?
You could write it off that it is all innocent act that ended up harming the student’s emotional and mentally well being; nevertheless it is still a hate crime.
~D
October 4th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
The high horse never felt this good!
October 4th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Richard is the Deaf Community’s nutcase
It is just a stupid teenage prank. As usual, the media sensationalize and overblow the severity of the incident. One African American participated in this prank. Is he a racist? No, this wasn’t a hate crime.
October 4th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
Scary out there … I have seen the drastic news that have changed lately. The small incident makes it bigger and it gets out of control. Pretty sad out there.
October 8th, 2007 at 5:58 am
What happened at MSSD was stupid we all agree on that but wether its considered a hate crime or modern day youth being ingorant (once again) is up for each and every one of you to decide(personally) and with this being a High School and the students at an age where they should know what “KKK” means I mean we all have heard the stories of the burning cross and the white coned hoods. I’m sure the individuals involved did too and they have no one else to blame but themselves…they should have thought twice…I personally am not all that suprised at this incident. I mean there are laws against this kind of stuff but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist…so instead of everyone looking at MSSD in disbelief how about we all look around us. Look at the world we live in and realize that the incident at MSSD can’t even be weighed up on the scale side by side with other incidents that have resulted in a mass number of deaths due to hate crime or just HATE.
…..THINK ABOUT IT. Thank You.
October 8th, 2007 at 8:21 am
It’s so sad that all of you talk as if you know what happened… my son who is 15 and white was involved in this… his grandmother is black and 3 of his sisters are black… he has no understanding of discrimination and does not know what a swastika is… He is developmentally 10 or 11 and socially weak. He is not a pro signer nor is he a pro oral… He was stuck in hearing schools all his life and has only been in deaf school for 2 years. He was invited by older students to play a game of “war” where the upstairs floor is one team and the downstairs floor was another team… the black student was captured by another black student, not because he was black but because he was on the other team. they tied him up as a prisoner of war and demanded to know the other teams plan and strategy. My son was directed by the other students to question him about the other teams plans. the student who was tied up was laughing at the questions and my son quit because he couldn’t get answers and went back to his room with another friend to play video games. Some time after that is when the disgusting racial hate took place. My son should never have been involved but truly didn’t know what was going on yet he is now out of school too. According to dc police he is a victim as well. Some kids are not educated or developmentally capable of understanding social issues although their stated age says they should be. While my son did the wrong thing, it was not with malicious intent. It is not correct to say that nobody was hurt.. the hurt among many of the students is extreme. My son still refuses to eat and cries uncontrollably each day a week later… the child that was tied up was his friend… he thought he was playing an innocent game of war where they take over the upstairs floor. When you entrust your child with special needs to a school and culture that you, as a parent, don’t fully understand, you think you are doing the right thing, you pray that they will be safe and taught, yet you later find out they are disliked because they speak and taken advantage of because they are weaker. Many of the stronger and older students that were involved were only given in dorm restriction rather than being sent home. They were wise to culture and language and pinned their disgraceful behaviors on the younger and weaker students. Those students who were in control and more powerful are the ones who have gotten away with their actions by using the weaker and younger students as scapegoats.