group of metro high school students has been caught in a hazing incident that involved alcohol, thanks to pictures and comments found on the popular website, MySpace.com. (2006 incident)
The incident happened toward the beginning of the school year on Aug. 26. A senior at DC West High School invited several students to a senior-freshmen sleepover.
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‘);Linda Bogatz’s 15-year-old niece lives with her, and was one of the freshmen who were invited. Bogatz said all seemed fine until she got a call from another parent three days later.
“(The parent) said, ‘Are you aware of all the things that went on at this senior-freshmen sleepover?’ And I said, ‘Well yeah, this is what they did,’ and she said, ‘No, there’s more to it,'” Bogatz said.
The “more to it” was a hazing incident that included plenty of vodka, beer and Smirnoff Ice at Elkhorn Crossing Park near 252nd and Bennington Road.
Pictures and comments about the party turned up on MySpace.com the next day.
“She did so many shots of vodka that she started vomiting within 10 minutes, and then passed out five minutes later face-down in her own vomit,” Bogatz said as she pointed to one of the girls in the pictures.
Wednesday, students at DC West got their fill of discussions about the use and dangers of alcohol. The school also held a discussion for parents later in the evening.
“We’re trying to address those concerns and be pro-active as a community,” said Principal Joann Stevens, “not only as a school system, but working with the parents and community members to try to address those concerns.”
The students who were caught drinking each received a 14-day suspension from school activities like sports and clubs. That is part of the school’s activity code, and it applies even if the drinking did not occur on school grounds or at a school-sanctioned event.