By JUDY RATTNER
Twenty-five of 41 varsity and junior varsity players who went on the trip, April 1-7, during school vacation, have come forward to admit that they drank while in California, despite having signed a Code of Conduct that, among other things, specifically prohibited the possession of alcohol. All 25 students received automatic five-day suspensions from school.
The admissions were what school officials said they were looking for as they conducted an investigation into the team members' activities on the trip. Officials hoped that all the players involved would take responsibility for their behavior by admitting their actions and accepting the consequences.
"The season is going forward," Dr. Carol Burris, South Side's principal, said on Monday. In addition to the seven players who came forward last week, she said, "An additional 18 players and their parents came forward today. We're very happy that students, after grappling with their personal consciences and speaking with each other, decided to do the right thing and come in and admit that they were drinking on the trip."
"This was more than a lacrosse issue," said district Health and Athletic Director Michael Heller. "We as a school district subscribe to the idea that education is first and foremost the building of strong character and integrity. It is the job of all coaches to teach self-discipline, accepting responsibility and being accountable. Our goal was to make sure we could maintain the season for those boys who were innocent of any wrongdoing, and also to make sure that those boys who were guilty were brought to justice.
"This investigation lasted a week, involving the school administration, coaching staff, parents and team members," Heller went on. "We made it very clear from the beginning that the season would come to an end unless all of those who were involved came forward with an admission of guilt. Through the effort of various parents who worked very closely with the administration, we're comfortable in the fact that all of the young men who were involved came forward and are willing to accept the consequences of their actions."
"No one is ever happy that kids make mistakes," said Superintendent Dr. William Johnson, "but when they do, I was very pleased that the students and their families took responsibility and came forward. It speaks very highly of the character of the people who were involved. ... We are all about learning, and part of the growing experience of kids is that when they make mistakes, it is better in the long run for them to take ownership of their own behavior, even though the consequences are not something they want to live with.
"Learning does not end at the classroom door," Johnson added. "I just hope that we have all learned from this."
Several parents of team members, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity, described tensions and divisions among the players, specifically between those who came forward immediately, those who reluctantly did so later and those who were not involved in the drinking. Parents described a few meetings last weekend during which they talked among themselves about resolving the issue.
Some voiced strong concern for senior players who have already accepted lacrosse scholarships - some at prestigious universities - and for juniors who count on college recruiters to watch them play as they begin to focus on their post-high-school careers. All of the parents seemed to agree that canceling the season would have been bad for everyone involved.
They also agreed that their kids had done something wrong, though some parents questioned the way the district handled the matter. "They dealt with the situation as best they could," one parent said.
Both Johnson and Burris said they felt there would be no long-term harm to the program or the players. "I think colleges and universities understand that kids make mistakes, and if they admit them and change their lives and we see that, it will be OK," Johnson said.
Burris said that the suspensions would not be included on students' transcripts. But, she added, some colleges may ask on their applications whether a student was ever suspended, and why. Burris said that the high school would not send out college application that are not factual, so students who have been suspended are left with the choice of omitting the question or answering it with an explanation.
Echoing comments made by other school administrators, Johnson voiced strong support for Burris, Heller and the coaches. He said they handled the situation correctly, because "we did not want the kids to turn each other in, we wanted them to turn themselves in. Ultimately, they came around and understood that this was the best way to do it, and that's what happened."
Varsity coaches Joseph Baccarella, Steve DiPietro and Brian Spallina, junior varsity coach Tom Londino and middle school coach Adam Hanenal chaperoned the trip. "The coaches were wonderful from beginning to end," Burris said. "They did their best to provide good supervision, and gave of their own personal vacation time to afford the boys the opportunity to go on the trip."
"The team is back in place," Johnson concluded. While the players serve their suspensions, he explained, "We will probably field some kind of skeletal team for the next week or so." The team had games scheduled on Tuesday and Friday.
"It was a tough experience for all involved," Heller said, "but if our job as educators is to change behavior and make kids better for it, then we've succeeded. There are divisions on the team, but there will be a healing process and we'll move forward. The coaches are hurt and a level of trust was breached and needs to be repaired, but they're willing to move forward."
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