11 Students Suspended Over Crudity in Newspaper

A clash over the publication of a crude, profane underground newspaper at a Pacific Palisades high school has resulted in the suspension of 11 students and triggered protests by students defending their rights to freedom of expression.

Administrators have banned the newspaper, which was written and produced with computers and copy machines at Palisades Charter High School. Many of the articles in the newspaper deal with sex, while others take aim at reputedly unpopular teachers.

One story falsely described a teacher as an actress in pornographic films. That teacher refused to return to class last week because, she said, she feels threatened by several of the students involved in the paper.

“We believe this started out as a senior prank that went on to create havoc and fear on the part of some teachers,” said Dan Isaacs, assistant superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

“Our investigation has determined that a number of faculty have been emotionally damaged by this,” he said. “When you take that kind of liberty to defame and use obscenities and profanity, the persons responsible should be disciplined.”

One student involved with the publication, Michael Burke, 18, said administrators were overreacting.

“The newspaper was put together by about 40 people; it was kind of a prank in a way, a way to get some feelings out,” he said. “It’s gotten to the point where people think we’re dangerous. But if we intended harm, we’d have gone to school with guns. We went with pens.”

He added, “Maybe it’s the generation gap that makes it look worse to adults than to us. Or maybe we students don’t know what’s funny and what’s not.”

One article in the paper suggested ways to “have sex with the teacher’s wife.” Others discussed bestiality and suggested ways of “making your teacher cry.”

Burke expressed regret Friday about some items in the paper that he said went too far. He has become a bit of a celebrity on campus, giving media interviews about the dispute. He has also missed two weeks of school because of his involvement.

On Tuesday, an estimated 300 Palisades High students missed morning classes to attend a campus rally to support the banned newspaper and the suspended students.

Since the protest, district staff members, school police, special counselors and youth relations experts have been trying to ease tensions at the 2,420-student school.

“Some people thought the language used in the newspaper was no big deal. Others thought it was an assault,” said Principal Don Savarese. “I felt it was despicable.”

As school let out Friday, some students said the paper had gone overboard. But they also felt that it had targeted the right teachers and that officials overreacted.

A few said there was a double standard, under which students are given report cards by teachers but not allowed to voice their opinions about those same teachers.

“I think the newspaper can be a little more constructive, but I don’t think anyone should be transferred because of it,” said junior Walena Logan, 16, citing a rumor that has been circulating on campus.

L.A. Unified spokesman Shel Erlich said that, as of Saturday, administrators were not considering the transfer of any of the 11 students.

Sophomore Anthony Mathews, 16, found the paper “kind of overboard,” but said that “people didn’t have to read it. The school is making this seem bigger than Columbine.”

One girl, who requested anonymity, complained that the newspaper was “degrading to women.”

Teacher Janice Adams, who was the target of some of the most inflammatory articles, agreed.

“But my personal feelings aside,” she said, “what upset me most is not the perverse writings of a few obviously maladjusted individuals, but how this attracted a significant portion of our intelligent and wonderful students.

“They were following [a] Pied Piper without even looking at where they were going,” she said.

“When will we--the administration, the teachers, the parents--be responsible and take charge and say loudly and clearly, ‘This is not how a civilized society acts’?” she asked. “It is our responsibility to raise citizens, not thugs.”

Supt. Ramon C. Cortines sent a memo to the school’s faculty and staff, saying, “I won’t tolerate any threatening behavior against the adults at the school by students.”

Times correspondent Monte Morin contributed to this story.