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'Culturally demeaning' chant started at Severna Park, Arundel boys basketball game; principal apologizes to players – Capital Gazette
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An internal investigation is underway after Severna Park High School students started a “culturally demeaning and degrading” chant at Friday’s boys basketball game against Arundel High School, the Severna Park High principal wrote in a letter to parents.
Severna Park Principal Lindsay Abruzzo also addressed her school through a statement over the morning announcements and attended Arundel High’s basketball practice to apologize to the team, according to the letter Monday.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools Chief Communications Officer Bob Mosier said the district would not repeat what was said in the chant.
Abruzzo wrote in her letter that incidents like this need an all-hands approach to be corrected.
“I emphasize that the issue is one WE must solve together,” Abruzzo wrote. “Schools can play a part, but I need the help of this community to eradicate this kind of behavior from our school.”
During the second half of the game at Severna Park, one of Arundel’s players was awarded foul shots, according to the letter. As he took position at the free-throw line, some spectators in the Severna Park student section began the chant.
A couple of students were pulled aside by staff and given a message to pass on to others that the chant wasn’t appropriate, said Arundel High Principal Gina Davenport, who was in attendance. She said the chant was directed at Black players.
That evening, Davenport reached out to Abruzzo to express her concerns.
“While the remarks on Friday may have been subtle in comparison to other more explicit statements, it was still a microaggression that was centered in bias to a culture,” Davenport said in an interview.
Davenport said Abruzzo texted her Monday afternoon to say she was on her way over to Arundel High, in Gambrills, to apologize to the players in person.
“It was sincere, and she told them she understand that harm was caused,” Davenport said. “She also promised she would be at the next Arundel versus Severna Park game.”
Davenport went on to say that the boys were surprised by the apology and received it well.
“Unfortunately, for some students, the comments that were made Friday have become normal; apologies [are] less normal,” Davenport said. “Hopefully, over time, we can change that.”
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An investigation within Severna Park High has identified nine students who were involved in the chant. The administration is “handling those cases appropriately and administering consequences in accordance with our Code of Student Conduct,” the letter from Abruzzo states.
Punishments could include suspensions from games for players, and removal from games or season-long, countywide bans for student fans as well as school suspensions or expulsions for repeat offenders, depending on the severity of the findings, according to the conduct code.
Interviews are still ongoing, and additional students found to have any level of involvement with be punished, according to the letter.
“I want everyone to understand that this type of behavior will not be tolerated at any level,” Abruzzo wrote. “I have instructed our administrators and athletics staff that should this type of behavior occur again, the contest in progress will be stopped and all students will be removed from the gym before the contest will resume. There will be no refunds issued and students found to be in violation of behavior unbecoming of a spectator will not be allowed to attend any further games this season.”
Before the season, Davenport spoke to Arundel High’s winter coaches, along with the public school system’s chief of equity and innovation, Maisha Gillins, about bias-motivated behavior among team members and students, Davenport said.
They discussed what teachers and administrators could do to make sure students on the court or field aren’t exchanging biased remarks, noting that sometimes those remarks come from the stands, she said.
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