Several Warsaw Community High School students say the message was loud and clear: No American flags or red, white and blue colors at Friday’s football game.
Warsaw Community Schools administration says its position is that it strongly supports patriotism.
The warning was given during lunch time by Athletic Director Dave Anson, according to senior Lucas Rhodes, who is one of the leaders of the student cheer block.
Anson told students that anyone wearing an American flag or red, white and blue for military night would be escorted off the premises, according to multiple witnessess.
Rhodes said he was dumbfounded when he heard the announcement.
Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said he didn't know whether Anson made the announcement or not, but said he was looking into what was said, in what context it was said and the intent behind what was said.
Hoffert admitted that if someone did threaten students with removal from the game for wearing the colors, it would be a violation of school policy.
Senior Jacob Rios said he was offended that the school would forbid them from wearing the country’s colors on military night.
“We felt like we couldn’t do anything about it. We’re students, what they say goes,” Rios said. He said he debated going public, but in the end said he wanted to do what was right for him and the other students.
The high school has three lunch periods. Lucas Harvey, who has “A” lunch, said he heard the announcement. Another student, Anna Wainscott, said she heard the same announcement during “C” lunch.
The cheer block is in charge of setting theme nights for the student section. The leaders wanted to have an “American Night,” as they had in years past.
School officials nixed the idea of an American night due to a controversy last year when the cheer block tweeted out “Nothing Like ’Murica night #buildthatwall,” coupled with reports of allegations of uncouth conduct by students in the cheer block during the game. The behavior led officials to end American night at the game.
Rhodes said he didn’t intend for the night to be a political statement.
“We wanted to express our patriotism and love for our country,” Rhodes said. He added he understood the concerns about last year’s events. “We’re not last year’s group,” he said.
He suggested to the school that they restrict any political statement or attire supporting any candidate, political idea or movement to avoid last year’s events, Rhodes said.
In an email response, Principal Troy Akers told Rhodes there would be no American theme this year.
“I think you can understand that in this instance, the bad choices of others led to this decision. Likewise, why would anyone want to push this issue when we have so much negativity going on surrounding politics?” Akers’ email states.
After being told no by Akers, Rhodes appealed to Hoffert.
Hoffert echoed concerns about last year’s controversy, emailing Rhodes, “The actions transcended far past the night of the events due to social media and even South Bend and Fort Wayne TV stations, portraying our school, students and cheer block in a unflattering way.”
Hoffert said they received requests from the community to expel students or disband the cheer block. “We did not believe expelling students was the correct action but we did have to put some guard rails in place around this and other themes,” he said.
Rhodes said he respects Hoffert and understands that it was his call to make.
After students talked it over, they came up with a plan to have a military night instead.
“We agreed to military night because we couldn’t have American night,” Rios said.
Rhodes said the Friday lunch announcement came so suddenly and close to the game that there wasn’t much time to discuss it with school officials.
Anson did not return a phone call seeking comment as of press time this morning.
Luke Delp, another leader of the cheer block, said a student came to him upset at the game because his American flag was confiscated at the gate by school officials. Another student had an American hat taken away.
In a news release, Hoffert said, “WCHS has a documented dress code that does not prohibit symbols or colors of the American flag. Although the theme and colors for the night did not match red, white and blue, these are not prohibited to wear. WCHS prides itself in long patriotic history and pride in our country. A thorough review will be conducted on communications with the cheer block surrounding this situation. Any statement or perceived action of removal for wearing patriotic colors was never intended, nor was the stance for the theme of the night to appear in any manner unpatriotic. A sincere apology goes out from WCHS for any comments or actions contrary to our well-established policy and strong pride in America.”
