‘Twerking’ suspension of San Diego students removed from transcripts

The San Diego school district has agreed to expunge from the transcripts of 31 high school students that they were suspended for being part of a “twerking video” shot on campus.

The decision by top administrators came after negotiations with a lawyer representing three of the students.

Attorney Ruth Hargrove, a professor at California Western School of Law, told KGTV-Channel 10 that her clients feel a sense of “relief and gratitude” that all mention of the incident will be removed from the students’ transcripts.

The local ACLU had also called on the district to reconsider its punishment against the students at Scripps Ranch High School.

The governing board of the district had declined to overturn the punishment despite complaints from parents that it was overly harsh and could hurt their children’s chances of being admitted to college.

In a video posted on the Internet, the students are shown twisting and thrusting their hips and buttocks, with rap music playing in the background. The term “twerking” is said to be a mix of the words twist and jerk.

“It is my personal opinion that the video is a deeply offensive production with implications for lewd conduct, sexual harassment and gender victimization,” then-Supt. Bill Kowba wrote in a memo to board members in May. “It is especially insulting to [Scripps Ranch High], having been filmed on district property without district/school authorization.”

The suspensions were given to “28 white females and 3 male students of color,” Kowba wrote. He described their actions as “gyrating against a wall while standing on their hands.” The music, he wrote, was “salacious.”

Kowba has since retired and been succeeded by Cindy Marten, a veteran principal in the district.

A spokeswoman for the district said that, “After further review, a mutual agreement has been reached that is in the best interest of the students and the district. The parents, students, school and district are ready to move beyond this incident and focus on the upcoming school year.”

ALSO:

Masked men with guns hold up In-N-Out looking for cash

Outrage after San Francisco mother killed in park by city truck

L.A. Customs officer, brothers charged in gun-smuggling scheme

Twitter: @LATsandiego

tony.perry@latimes.com