- Local every day in
VIDEO: Brother Rice Students Speak Out on Hate Crime Incident
Patch talked to a few Brother Rice students Thursday about a hate crime incident that happened over winter break, when three white teens threatened a black student's life.
After speaking with Brother Brother Rice High School officials about a hate crime incident involving two of their current students and one alumnus, Patch hit the streets to ask students their take on the situation.
Chicago police recently charged three teens with perpetrating a hate crime on Dec. 23 in the 1600 block of South 100th Pl. A Brother Rice student, Joshua Merritt, 17, was the victim and one of the accused is a classmate.
Merritt said Matthew Herrmann, 18, of Alsip and two other teens forced him to wear a noose and threatened his life, according to police.
Brother Rice High School principal James Antos said "as of right now, the student is removed from school." Disciplinary action taken against the student "will be determined, given our school processes," according to Antos.
The Brother Rice students polled said if the school offered a course on tolerance/acceptance/social justice, they'd take it. They were also confident that their school would handle the situation appropriately.
TAKE OUR POLL: Should schools teach hate crime prevention?
READ: Brother Rice Principal Responds to Hate Crime Incident.
READ: COPS: Classmate Forced Brother Rice Student to Wear a Noose
READ: Brother Rice HS: Will Use Hate Crime Incident to Teach Tolerance
Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.
Michael G. Lombard
7:30 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Is Palos Patch aware that Marist High School sponsors the page that features the video of Brother Rice students discussing the hate crime incident? Ever consider editorial oversight?
Dan Lambert
9:32 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Hi Michael,
Marist is the sponsor of all the education stories that appear on Palos Patch. This simply means that their ad shows up on education stories. There is absolutely no connection between what we cover or how we cover it, and the advertisers that happen to be on the page.
Furthermore, this particular story also appears on the Oak Lawn and Evergreen Park sites where you might see it paired with an ad for Huck Finn Donuts or another business. I can assure you that our editorial coverage in no way is informed by advertisers.
Dan Lambert,
Palos Patch Editor
Michael G. Lombard
11:43 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Didn't insinuate that the sponsor flavors the story in anyway. Just seemed to me that it was unfortunate that sponsorship ad was tagged to that particular article. Call it bad timing or bad placement. It is unfortunate that much of the media has made Brother Rice the center of the story when the school shouldn't be. (I am a Marist grad).
Grunty
11:56 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
This is how internet ad technology works. The ad's are tied to what you are looking at. Reading a story about how condom's are bad, you might see an ad for trojan condoms in one of the boxes (and suddenly you may start seeing ads for all kinds birth control while you browse other web pages).
Dan Lambert
12:24 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Thanks for clarifying, Michael. I didn't mean to be overly agressive, but we just like to be clear on issues like that. Grunty, our local ads work in a different way. However, most national-type ads you see browsing around the web work like that. Big brother is watching I guess . . .
Jim Vondracek
7:56 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
This is a good reminder that we need to be active advocates against the culture of violence and racism that still exists here in the southwest neighborhoods.
tom miramontes
9:52 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
As parents, we need to start setting examples for our kids. Its never too late to practice what we preach. Just because our kids attend fine schools (all are geat!) we are wrong to place the burden of moral education on the schools. Don't wait for classes to be offered, start at home! Spend time with our kids, you'll be amazed at the outcome!
Renita Young
10:44 am on Friday, January 27, 2012
Jim and Tom, both good points. Racism still exists everywhere. Parents should teach kids morals, but it's within the school's mission to do so, as well, so it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for a Catholic school to teach a special class. One of the students in the video said he takes a Morality class at Brother Rice. An all-around approach to it might be best--kids learning morals and values from home, school, church, community, etc. But at the end of the day, individuals have the choice whether or not they want to actually do right.
Thanks for reading.
Renita Young,
Evergreen Park Patch Editor
Fred Samuels
12:56 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
Sure another class to teach kids not to be bad. Against stupity even the gods battle in vain. This case is the combined stupidity of three teenagers, an awesome force beyond the current educational systems ability to correct.
rick
9:52 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
to each his own mixed dating is unpopular in that area I grew up in Morgan .PK, keep to your own I went to Holy Name of MARY i lived on 118th st. had to walk 1.5 miles to church close by but (we) black catholics couldn't attend the church on 117th.Church. st. it was for white only you would of thought the catholic church would have taken a stand but they knew what side their bread was buttered on so don't expect much we were children being chased by dobermens back to our side of vincennes by GOD fearing white catholic who could got to confession and be absolved so they could go back and do it again I'M NOT afraid to give my name rick I'M still catholic don't ask me why maybe when i left CHICAGO and i was met by some real catholics they carried out the doctrine of peace and love for all