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Morton West parents, students protest disparity in discipline

War sit-in held last week at Berwyn school

By Gerry Smith / Chicago Tribune

Some Morton West High School students and their parents met outside the Berwyn school this morning to complain about disciplinary measures regarding an Iraq war sit-in at the school last week.

About 20 parents and their children claim that students who play varsity athletics or have higher grade-point averages were given less stringent penalties for the Thursday demonstration.

About 30 students participated in the cafeteria sit-in, according to school officials and students. Some students claim officials told them that if they moved the protest—in which students sat in crowd and locked arms—to another area, they would only face Saturday detention, but officials later cited the demonstrators with "gross disobedience and mob activity," non-criminal offenses but enough to be considered for suspensions and expulsion.

Students and parents claim that some students with lower grades were given 10-day suspensions and face expulsion while students favored by officials were given five-day suspensions and do not have to threat of expulsion hearings.

The District 201 school board meets tomorrow night and likely will consider disciplinary measures.

"We knew there'd be some disciplinary action, but we never thought it would lead to expulsion," said Matt Heffernan, a junior.

Adam Szwarek said his son is a sophomore facing a 10-day suspension and possible expulsion. "Parents of students in varsity sports or higher GPAs were called immediately," he said. "Parents like myself never got a call."

The parents want their students re-instated, and penalties removed from records.

School officials could not be reached this morning.