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Students meet with school officials who refuse to hand over diplomas

This student got it right: "It's just dumb. It's petty."

Associated Press

GALESBURG, Illinois (AP) -- Five students denied diplomas after cheers erupted when their names were called at a high school graduation emerged empty-handed Tuesday from a meeting with school administrators.

The students and their families met briefly with Galesburg High School officials at an administration building, but they were again denied the diplomas because no one apologized to school officials for the cheers at the May 27 ceremony.

The students in the central Illinois town about 150 miles southwest of Chicago will still graduate and receive their transcripts, even if they don't receive the keepsake diplomas.

School officials withheld the diplomas because they said the cheering violated a school policy aimed at restoring graduation decorum. Officials told the five female students and their parents Friday that they would hand over diplomas if they received apologies -- even anonymously.

Following the meeting, Assistant Superintendent Joel Estes declined to comment to reporters.

The students' family members said Peoria attorney Jeffrey Green contacted the group Friday after hearing about the case. He plans to send a letter to school officials this week, seeking an apology and the denied diplomas.

The case may go to court if the diplomas aren't delivered, but the students and their parents say they won't seek punitive damages.

Honors student Caisha Gayles said she just wants to get her diploma and move on.

"It's just dumb. It's petty," Gayles said.

The students denied the diplomas say school officials wanted them to track down the cheering culprits. They say that is impossible, because they don't know who might have cheered in the crowd of about 2,000 people.

— Associated Press
CNN
2007-06-06


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