New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

To conclude the student discipline situation at New Ulm High School, the following New Ulm Journal story is added to the historic records. The partial text of an apology by students is included at the end of this article. This article as posted on the Journal website Nov. 5, 2009 and was written by Kremena Spengler, staff writer.

NEW ULM - While the penalties imposed on students won't change, District 88 parents and administrators appeared to agree to "move forward in a positive manner" and "work together" toward finding solutions that will prevent poor sportsmanship in the future.

In addition, a group of high school students briefly joined the meeting, reading a letter of apology for their actions, reportedly signed by about 170 students.

The discussion leading to these outcomes took place during an open public meeting Wednesday at the District Administrative Center.

The parents requested the meeting - their second one with administrators - to express concerns and ideas in the aftermath of disciplinary action against approximately 40 students. The first meeting between parents and administrators took place on Oct. 28.

The disciplinary action in question happened after game officials ejected New Ulm student fans from a home volleyball match with Fairmont on Oct. 22.

While accounts of the events that led to the removal vary, the students were removed after game officials judged them disrespectful to the opposing team.

A significant portion of the New Ulm students reportedly left the bleachers during the opposing team's introduction; the students made a negative chant in reference to the visiting coach; and a coin was thrown on the court.

Negative behaviors, reportedly including profane language, persisted after the removal. These behaviors occurred near one of the gym doors and in the parking lot, some of them after police officers arrived at the site.

As a result, local administrators banned about 40 students from attending as spectators, or participating in, District 88 and Minnesota High School League events and contests. The punishment will last for two weeks or two contests, whichever is longer. The weeks run from Oct. 26 to Nov. 6.

As a result, some senior players have missed their last football game; and hockey players will miss the opening of the hockey season.

The disciplinary action is "stand-alone" - it does not count toward any accrual of violations, according to High School Principal Mark Bergmann.

Sixty-plus people showed up for the meeting Wednesday, but two parent representatives, Tim Loose and Andy Kehren, primarily summarized the parents' viewpoint.

The administration was represented by Superintendent Harold Remme, High School Principals Mark Bergmann and Steve Weber, and Activities Director Steve Worm. Also present were school board members Patricia Hoffman and Bill Day.

Tim Loose, in his own words, sought to provide some background for the parents' concerns and goals for the evening.

"My original response to hearing of this event was, 'you boneheads!,' and be clear, I was speaking of our kids," said Loose. "I couldn't believe a whole section was ejected."

"But the more I learned of the details, the more I realize the process has been flawed."

He went on to point out that the administration ignored "respect for the individual" in handing down "mass punishments."

Loose also cited a response by a school board member when asked for some "due process." The board member, Loose said, replied that "due process implies that the students have a legal right to participate in athletics. And they don't!"

"I am outraged that this board member justifies the reaction - the key word is 'reaction' - to the situation," said Loose. "I am only asking to do what is right; we shouldn't hide behind what is legal."

He said "many people have been unjustly hurt by this process..."

"I'd venture to say the perception by many parents right now is that one of our kids could be severely punished without cause at any time in this school district."

Later in his presentation, Loose added:

"There is a widespread feeling that our kids have been 'thrown under the bus' in an attempt to hide the administration's lack of action for behavior that they admittedly say has been going on for way too long."

"We want our kids to own the behavior that... led to ejection. Additionally, we believe the administration needs to own their behavior... which we believe was lack of action for a long time..."

In turn, Andy Kehren, the other parent spokesman, gave an overview of the incidents that led to the ejection.

He went on to list several prior incidents that, he said, indicate that problematic behavior had been happening prior to the game in question.

Kehren pointed out "several commonalities" repeated throughout the season:

Students adjusted their behavior when asked to do so;

No student was ever removed from a game or suspended from future game attendance or participation; and

Supervisors, administrators and the School Board consistently communicated that the student conduct was "within substantial conformance of school district standards and not justifying the removal of a student from a game or the suspension of attendance or participation from future event."

Kehren noted that no individual ejections occurred, as specific incidents happened at the game prior to the mass ejection.

He also said that the punishment did not differentiate between direct and indirect involvement; and that "a conscious decision was made that it was acceptable to punish those who may not have been involved in inappropriate activity" - but "were simply there."

Drawing on the analogy with graduation, Kehren also said, with some emotion, that for half a dozen seniors, the football game they did not play in was "more than a game."

"It represented graduation from a very special eight-year chapter of a young man's life; a chapter that was shared among teammates, coaches, family, friends and community; it was a celebration..."

Loose then took the floor again to urge "everyone - again EVERYONE" to "take ownership" and apologize for their actions.

A group of students briefly joined the meeting, to read a letter of apology reportedly signed by some 170 students (see sidebar).

Loose also asked administrators to meet with a group of parents, to consider "more appropriate punishments for the individuals involved, considering 'respect for the individual.'"

"I'm asking you to start over," Loose urged those present.

Quoting research by the parents, he suggested that a committee of student leaders, parents and administrators develops detailed local guidelines, to prevent such issues from recurring.

While the administration's response was less detailed, it maintained its prior position - that those in charge did the best they could, with the means available, to identify those involved and address the issue.

Remme, among others, acknowledged "imperfections" in this process.

"We are ready to take ownership," he said. "Did we do everything right? No ... I never said that."

"Were people wrongfully identified, or even NOT identified?," added Remme. "The process was less than accurate, perhaps... The question now is, however, how do we recover and move forward... ?"

Remme also said administrators want to "work cooperatively" with students, parents and the community to "improve communication" and develop clearer guidelines that better "communicate expectations."

"I am not ready to change the punishment, however," stressed Remme.

Partial text of apology by students

"We are here tonight with the hope that the student body and the administration can come to a better understanding of the chain of events that led up to the incident of being expelled from the volleyball game and use it as a catalyst to forge positive change. Further, we would like to offer our commitment and assistance to work with the administration to set forth policy and guidelines as it pertains to student conduct at school-sponsored events and to be leaders in supporting and enforcing these new policies and guidelines.

"In hindsight we realize that some of our conduct may have been misconstrued or interpreted as more negative than we had intended it to be. Additionally, we now have a better understanding of how our behavior has impacted our community, our school and the student body and realize that our behavior not only impacts people's perception of us individually, but as an entire group.

"Going forward, we will commit to being more mindful of how we represent ourselves and our school. We commit to changing the negative perception to a positive one..."