Berkeley High student responsible for hostile image to face disciplinary action

Monday, November 9, 2015

Berkeley High student responsible for hostile image to face disciplinary action

Kore Chan/File

Last Updated November 10, 2015

A Berkeley High School student responsible for the hostile language and threats to black individuals discovered on a library computer last week will face disciplinary action, according to school officials.

School officials are still in the stage of deciding what form the punishment could take. According to Berkeley Unified School District spokesperson Mark Coplan, the punishment could range anywhere from restorative justice, which focuses on rehabilitating the perpetrator through community, to expulsion. The punishment will be determined through a confidential process in order to protect the student’s identity.

Because school officials considered the student’s actions to be a hate crime, the high school is required to turn over evidence to the Berkeley Police Department for a potential criminal investigation.

At this point, Coplan said the decision rests with the police department over whether to press charges. BPD, however, did not immediately respond to indicate whether it would do so.

On Wednesday, a parent volunteer found an image displayed on one of the school’s computers that threatened a public lynching Dec. 9. After thousands of high school students took to the streets in protest, the administration, along with the school’s Black Student Union, decided to give the day back to black Berkeley High School students.

According to Coplan, the day will include a number of activities, from local leaders who will speak on the topic of racism to celebrations of black heritage.

“Racism is inherent throughout our culture,” Coplan said. “Here at Berkeley, we are standing in unity and standing against racism.”

Students have also requested a space specifically for black students and faculty to have a discussion among themselves about their experiences at Berkeley High School and the campus climate.

“We are doing lots of things to make sure students feel safe,” Coplan said. “We’re working with students to look at immediate and long-term solutions.”

Contact Anderson Lanham at [email protected].

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Jack F.

Just compare the press treatment of the recent incident at Mizzou, where the white perpetrator was immediately identified, his image plastered all over the internet (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/university-missouri-authorities-apprehend-suspect-behind-social-media-threats-n461311), with this incident, where there is total silence about the perp (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/6/berkeley-high-wont-reveal-race-of-student-in-possi/).
- lspanker
  
  Absolutely – identifying the perp as non-white would take the wind out of the sails of this entire dog-and-pony show, which will milk ANY incident, no matter how inconsequential or ludicrous, to show the world how wonderful, holier-than-thou Berkeley is fighting off evil racists under the most daunting odds. In reality, all it does is demonstrate that there are more drama queens per square foot in this town than in an SF transvestite bar on Saturday nights. If Berkeley is going to allow itself to be punked and whipped into hysteria by some adolescent kid hacking a computer screen, it has far bigger problems than some imaginary KKK faction hiding under rocks somewhere…
- lspanker
  
  Looks like another one of my comments must have violated someone’s “safe space” again. The sad reality is that this kid posted what he did for ONE reason, and one reason alone – to get a REACTION. And, THE KID GOT HIS WISH, with half the town HYSTERICAL over some ludicrous threat the kid couldn’t pull off if he tried. But then again, that’s the problem with uber-liberal enclaves such as Berkeley. It’s more important for everyone to make a big show and flaunt their PC credentials than determine if there’s a real threat. These dumb bunnies may feel good about standing up against “racism” and “violence” and “hate speech”, but all they did is send a message to the next juvenile malcontent that he could spread panic and hysteria merely by hacking some childish threat onto a computer screen…
- Giordi
  
  Adult vs minor
  - lspanker
    
    More like one set of facts affirms the politically correct narrative, while the other one does not.
lspanker

“Racism is inherent throughout our culture,”

Yeah, right, whatever… it’s so “inherent” that people have to whip up hysteria over “threats” that are clearly ludicrous to the point where they are laughable. Really now, is a 15-year old student going to pull off a lynching on a high-school campus, and nobody going to stop him? It’s all about playing the victim card at every possible opportunity.
lspanker

I see you’re desperate to smear me as some type of “racist” in order to discredit me. Go ahead, tell me all the of instances below were genuine incidents of hate crimes:

Black Suspect Arrested After Racist Message Discovered Outside Predominately Black Church – A Colorado Springs man was arrested after police believe he left racist messages outside a church. Vincent Broughton, 44, who is black, is facing charges for committed a bias-motivated crime and disorderly conduct.

http://denver.cbslocal.com/2015/06/30/suspect-arrested-after-racist-message-discovered-outside-church/

Muslim UTA student’s claim of aggravated assault with a weapon was fabricated – Ambreen Sharif claimed she was targeted by a man in a pickup truck shouting “watch the f**k out, we’re killing all of you.” But a statement released by UT Arlington Friday afternoon says the entire incident was false and that it never happened, nor was Sharif even on campus that day. “In follow-up interviews today, the student said the confrontation did not occur”.

http://www.arlingtonvoice.com/crime-emergency-education/story/feb/13/2015/muslim-uta-students-claim-aggravated-assault-weapon-was

Racially charged hacking incident was just a hoax to push diversity agenda – A University of Chicago student who claimed his Facebook page was hacked and filled with racist and violent messages against him and another student has now admitted he faked the attack.

http://www.thecollegefix.com/post/20329/

College Student Caught In Another Hate Crime Hoax – Last month racist writing on a dormitory door shook Grand Valley State University near Detroit in Michigan. It appears to be a hoax, inflicted by the student who lived in the room and owned the whiteboard.

http://nation.foxnews.com/2014/03/23/college-student-caught-another-hate-crime-hoax

Minister Sentenced to 2 Years for Staging Fake ‘Hate Crime’ at His Home – Cuthrell, a black minister, has been convicted of faking a hate crime.

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/minister-sentenced-to-2-years-for-staging-fake-hate-crime-at-his-home

So, despite all your hysterial protestations, and attempts to divert the discussion into personal attacks, the truth of the matter is that are are indeed hate crime hoaxes intended to advance various and sundry agendas. Sorry if the truth invades your little Politically Correct “safe space”, but as they say, free speech can be quite the B-word sometimes…
Giordi

I continue to not understand why people insist on calling it a hoax. There is no evidence here for the “hoax” theory, and in lieu of evidence we should err on the side of caution – meaning that this should be treated with complete seriousness. My personal opinion is that it probably is in fact “hoax” – I use that word to mean that there is probably no real threat – but at the same time it is an unacceptable act.
- lspanker
  
  I continue to not understand why people insist on calling it a hoax. There is no evidence here for the “hoax” theory
  
  There is no evidence to prove that the perp has to motive, intent, OR ability to pull off a lynching in a public school, which is one reason many of us consider it a hoax. Doesn’t mean it’s acceptable, just as calling in a bomb threat isn’t acceptable either, but for people to run around screaming that people are going to be lynched on account of some amateurish teenage screen hack is ludicrous and irresponsible as well.
  - Giordi
    
    I just don’t get your logic. If there is a standing threat of violence against a school, the appropriate response is to take it seriously. It may very well turn out to be a hoax – again that’s where I would put my money if we were betting. But without any evidence I would not be willing to risk the safety of the school. Again, the correct response is to treat this with complete seriousness, not to use the ‘hoax’ label to downplay the threat.
    
    Would you be willing, lspanker, to engage with questions?
    1) Putting aside the issue of whether it is or not a hoax, do you consider this “hate speech”? If so, what is the appropriate response?
    2) Would your opinion about the response (from the authorities and also the hystericals) be different if the threat had been of the jihadist sort?
    3) The reason I don’t understand your logic: you are suggesting we need to wait for evidence that this guy has motive, intent, and/or ability to do it. But that is not what happens when there is a bomb threat. We don’t give the perpetrator the benefit of the doubt.
    - lspanker
      
      I just don’t get your logic. If there is a standing threat of violence against a school, the appropriate response is to take it seriously.
      
      IF it’s a credible threat. If a grown man with a sniper rifle is hanging out in front of 1600 Pennsylvania threatening to kill the president, of course it needs to be taken seriously. OTOH, say it’s a drunk redneck in a cowboy bar, or one of the denizens of People’s Park pushing a shopping cart and spewing semi-coherent babblings, or a teenage kid 3000 miles away. How credible are those threats?
      
      But that is not what happens when there is a bomb threat.
      
      It’s a lot easier to place a bomb somewhere than single-handedly pull off a lynching, which would require a sizeable, cooperative mob. You really think that in Berkeley of all places, people are going to just stand around and watch a black kid get lynched by another teenager in the middle of a school day? Really now…
      - Giordi
        
        I agree that there are degrees of credibility and the response should be commensurate with that. However your examples all rely on *evidence* – the man with the rifle, the insane drunkard, etc. But the only evidence you have here is that it is a high school student. That is not enough to rule out the threat in my mind.
        But enough on that, to a larger point. When someone uses words to terrorize a school, that is called hate speech. You did not answer my question about whether you agree that this is hate speech.
      - lspanker
        
        But the only evidence you have here is that it is a high school student. That is not enough to rule out the threat in my mind.
        
        You REALLY think some high school kid is going to pull off a LYNCHING at BHS, without anyone stopping him? Pardon me, but you’re attributing way more power and credit to this kid than he deserves… and sending the message to the next adolescent punk that all he needs to do is type in some stupid threat and watch all the grown adults freak out and wet their panties. Sorry, but you have lost all semblance of common sense trying to work up hysteria over this stupid incident.
      - Giordi
        
        As I’ve said several times already, I do not actually think that the threat is credible. Do me one favor though, for the third time, please tell me whether you regard this as hate speech.
      - lspanker
        
        There’s a distinct difference on the spectrum between credible threats, idle threats, and mere hate speech. Here’s your problem: you’re so desperate to make some symbolic stand against “racism”, “hate crimes”, et. al. to affirm your PC liberal credentials in the eyes of your peers that you’re willing to give some pimply-faced teenage jerk the opportunity to pull your string and have you run around like Chicken Little any time he (or she) wants to stir up the brown stuff for his (or her) own amusement.
      - Giordi
        
        ok, can you repeat that without the unnecessary rhetorical flare and just tell me whether or not you regard this as hate speech. A straight answer is appreciated.
      - lspanker
        
        To quote one of your favorite political figures: “What difference does it make?”
      - Giordi
        
        I’m sorry I don’t recognize the quote. But seriously, you should try to calm down. I mean, it’s hard to argue that I am the one promoting hysteria and that everyone else is hysterical when you sound the way you do. Cheers, over and out.
      - lspanker
        
        I’m sorry I don’t recognize the quote. But seriously, you should try to calm down.
        
        I’m quite calm, it’s just my style of writing. I prefer not to sound like someone who has been ingesting opiates before sitting down to type something.
        
        it’s hard to argue that I am the one promoting hysteria
        
        When you and everyone else turn this into a city-wide bed-wetting incident, you certainly are.
      - Giordi
        
        And what does the quote mean? I am just asking a question: Do you regard this as hate speech? Are you not able to answer the question?
      - lspanker
        
        And what does the quote mean? I am just asking a question: Do you regard this as hate speech? Are you not able to answer the question?
        
        What difference does it make? You want to punish the kid for “hate speech”, or for making a threat? I’m all for taking appropriate disciplinary action for making THREATS (take away his access to computers and smartphones for a couple of years to teach him what happens when he acts irresponsibly) but punishing him for “hate speech” isn’t going to suddenly make him a loving, caring, wonderful human being.
1kenthomas

While I abhor the content of the message, there is a clear First Amendment protection here. As presented, this was speech. Period. The small computer component (hack? really? it probably took minimal knowledge at best– is the equivalent of putting a poster on the wall).
Investigating this as a “hate crime?” It’s not a crime. It’s speech. BPD has no role to play here. The administrators are way over the First Amendment line, as well. There’s no place for disciplinary action against this kind of speech. Straightforward opposition, yes–
ACLU? Fire? Someone needs to defend this student, who is, after all, a minor. BHS (== the government) shouldn’t get to spread “privacy” to protect themselves.
And if the media knows more– including name– they would do well to report it. It’s likely in the student’s best interest, if they can’t afford representation of it their parents won’t defend them against the government abuse of power.
- s randall
  
  I really think it’s more like shouting fire in a crowded theater.
  
  People have the right of free speech. People do not have the right to intentionally disrespect or threaten others with the intent of provoking them.
  
  http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_27813451/american-flag-case-u-s-supreme-court-ends
  - 1kenthomas
    
    Justice Holmes’ concept of clear and proximate threat was quite precise. Yours is not.
    
    You’re simply wrong, and misrepresent the situation. There was no credible threat here.
    - Giordi
      
      How do we know, really, that the threat is not credible if we do not know the identity of the perpetrator? None of us know for a fact that this kid has no connection with the KKK.
      - lspanker
        
        None of us know for a fact that this kid has no connection with the KKK.
        
        None of us know for a fact that he does. How likely is there to be a sleeper KKK cell at BHS again?
      - 1kenthomas
        
        They come in via the tunnel to Louisiana.
      - lspanker
        
        Well, that PROVES there couldn’t be lynching on a Friday, because that’s the day the tunnel is reserved for human trafficking, drug smuggling, and satanic ritual abuse.
      - 1kenthomas
        
        First, credible and *proximate*.
        
        Next, presuming the rather stretched hypothetical that the 16-or-so-year-old was connected to a hate group capable of organizing and carrying out such action– don’t you think we’d see a quite different set of actions here, if that was the case? Some action against members of that group?
        
        Your scenario is so highly unlikely, that it may be dismissed out of hand.
    - Giordi
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech
    - s randall
      
      Justice Holmes’ concept of clear and proximate threat was quite precise. Yours is not.
      
      You’re simply wrong, and misrepresent the situation. There was no credible threat here.
      
      Did you read the link I posted? Supreme Court refused to intervene in a case in Morgan Hill, CA. Kids were not allowed to wear American flag t-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, because of the potential threat of violence. That is what the Supreme Court is doing in the here and now.
      
      You write like you know something about the law, but you clearly don’t.
      - 1kenthomas
        
        I was mentored by a certain Reinhardt.
        
        Yes, I read it. In the Morgan case, as the article states, the administration has a right to limit free speech given the previous history of tensions leading to disruptive incidents.
        
        As I have pointed out elsewhere, those concerns do not seem to apply here, and do not justify disciplinary action under these circumstances.
MattBracken

If the perp’s name was Billy Bob Clampett, his face would be on every channel, and they would be calling for his execution. But since it’s another racial hoax perpetrated by a protected Social Justice Warrior, they are trying to sweep it under the rug. And we can assume the perp is a protected minority, by the way they are hiding his/her name and face.
- http://basiscraft.com/ Thomas Lord
  
  Matt, you missed the memo. People in Berkeley know the legal restrictions against identifying the student who did this so your falsehoods in that area won’t work. Further, enough information has spread through the community so that we know this isn’t a “hoax”.
  
  No-nothings trolling comment sections are supposed to use a different set of talking points. You are supposed to be blaming the hate speech directed against blacks, on blacks. The right wingnuts are supposed to be marching to the tune that the hate speech was a cry for help from the true victim.
  - MattBracken
    
    Thanks for setting me straight, Comrade Lord.
    - lspanker
      
      The Russians used to have a name for people like Thomas – Полезная идиот.
  - five01c3
    
    Shut up, you insufferable far-left douche. You are enabling this social justice rot on college campuses and elsewhere, and they are going out of their way to make their instilled delusions of persecution real. Scurry away.
    
    In this case (as in most cases) the “hate speech” directed at blacks, wasn’t from whites. Who would you have us blame in this case? The Patriarchy?
    - http://basiscraft.com/ Thomas Lord
      
      You are enabling ….
      
      Wow. I guess you believe in all kinds of magic and witchcraft.
      - lspanker
        
        No, he believes in dealing with real issues, not manufactured hysteria over non-existent threats.
  - lspanker
    
    People in Berkeley know the legal restrictions against identifying the
    student who did this so your falsehoods in that area won’t work.
    Further, enough information has spread through the community so that we
    know this isn’t a “hoax”.
    
    Did the 15-year-old JD who hacked that screen have the motive, intent, and ability to pull off a “lynching” in a public school? Absolutely not – it was clearly a hoax designed (for whatever reason) to get people worked up – and if you honestly believe otherwise, I got a bridge to sell you…
    
    No-nothings trolling comment sections are supposed to use a different
    set of talking points. You are supposed to be blaming the hate speech
    directed against blacks, on blacks.
    
    Once again, hysterical lefties have to make up nonsense to fit their political narrative, because they can’t deal with facts and logic. Nobody was going to lynch anyone, and you’re merely being foolish if you suggest otherwise.
    - http://basiscraft.com/ Thomas Lord
      
      Oh my god lspanker, you are actually going to pretend that the “hoax” issue is about whether or not an actual lynching was likely. Nobody is that stupid. How slimy. Your chutzpah is amazing.
      - lspanker
        
        Oh my god lspanker, you are actually going to pretend that the “hoax” issue is about whether or not an actual lynching was likely.
        
        So we agree that if there was no actual lynching planned by the poster, it was indeed a hoax. So why the need to go into full-blown hysteria over it, unless the lefties and professional activists are grasping at any excuse to prove that “racism” is rampant in Berkeley?
      - http://basiscraft.com/ Thomas Lord
        
        By lspanker logic, there’s no big problem with people taunting jews with swastikas unless there’s an imminent threat of someone starting up ovens. Cat-calls are no big deal unless the perpetrator intends to rape. When street punks hurl insults at snooty shoppers it’s just a hoax unless there’s a guillotine waiting at the end of the block.
        
        Fair enough, lspanker, but nobody has “gone into full-blown hysteria”. A bunch of students stood up and outside of people like you trolling comment sections, no hysteria.
      - lspanker
        
        By lspanker logic, there’s no big problem with people taunting jews with swastikas
        
        I never said that, so please don’t put words in my mouth. I’m merely asking you to show some common sense and intellectual curiosity at the motive of such posts. We all know that a solitary 15-year-old kid isn’t going to overpower hundreds of kids, teachers, and administrators and pull off a lynching, so what was the real motivation again? We are also quite aware that many recent “hate crime” incidents have turned out to be hoaxes (or the new euphemism, which is “art project”). Some of us are also curious as to why a certain teacher chose to share this supposedly “hateful” and “distressing” message with other students BEFORE reporting it to school administrators.
        
        Now, perhaps you are one of those people who DO believe there are sleeper KKK cells @ BHS, or racists hiding under every rock in Berkleley, but I certainly don’t – and based on other comments here, others tend to agree. Factor in the demonstration that was conveniently organized on a moment’s notice, and some of us have good reason to be suspicious of this turn of events. It would not be the first time the Left orchestrated a hoax to advance their own agenda.
        
        Fair enough, lspanker, but nobody has “gone into full-blown hysteria”.
        
        They yelled and screamed and had a big-ass demonstration over it, in case you hadn’t noticed. Getting that worked up over a non-credible and improbable threat like that sure sounds like hysteria to me.
      - viking116
        
        No, but there would be a big problem with Jews (capitalize it, Lord) posting hoax “swastika” sightings in order to work up a mob scene or get stuff they haven’t worked to achieve.
        BTW: Cat calls are BY a potential perpetrator.
- 1kenthomas
  
  Enough with the false flag / hoax theories — remove your tin foil.
  - lspanker
    
    Phony hate crime hoaxes are nothing new in the UC system, and this one smelled suspicious from the get-go. Do try to keep up with current events…
    - 1kenthomas
      
      People claiming that actual crimes (again, note its not clear we have a crime here) are hoaxes, without any evidence, are also nothing new in the UC system; neither are victim-blamers; and other deniers; …
- Giordi
  
  The guy writes “Long live the KKK” and you see “Social Justice Warrior”. Please explain.
roccolore

The media won’t reveal the race of the student because he’s most likely black.
- laura
  
  Asian and the Daily Cal knows that and is refuses to print it. The kid likely suffered some of all too common racial bullying at BHS especially aimed at freshman. What the Daily Cal refuses to discuss is the violation of FERPA by the teacher who shared the image with BSU activists. This is the real problem at BHS not racism towards blacks.
  - roccolore
    
    He’s not a victim. Just another black liar faking the hate.
    - laura
      
      Do you have evidence or is that your suspicion? I am reporting what the Daily Cal reporters told me they learned about the freshman’s ethnicity. The violation by the teacher is the real threat to student safety and ultimately responsible for the entire hoax. Black youth at BHS are coddled and a protected class, they do not experience real discrimination.
      - roccolore
        
        There have been many instances where supposed “hate crimes” turned out to be hoaxes.
      - laura
        
        I am fully aware that the vast majority of incidents turn out to be hoaxes I am also aware of the racial dynamics at BHS. I have heard from several sources now that the young man is a minority, and as I said the Daily Cal admitted they heard Asian.
      - lspanker
        
        The violation by the teacher is the real threat to student safety and ultimately responsible for the entire hoax.
        
        A point I brought up previously that very few people are willing to discuss.
  - DragonflyBeach
    
    How do you know the perp was Asian, can you provide a citation?
    - laura
      
      read my comment below
      - lspanker
        
        What the Daily Cal refuses to address is the violation of FERPA student privacy rights by the teacher who shared the image with BSU student activists. This is the real problem at BHS not racism towards blacks.
        
        Funny how with all the yelling and screaming, that teacher is getting a pass on all of this…
      - laura
        
        Agreed, but not funny, especially to the students who face ACTUAL not imagined discrimination is the UPSIDE DOWN administrative governance of BUSD.
five01c3

Race hoaxes are great – they “raise awareness” about the racism that is supposedly “inherent throughout our culture.” The ends justify the means.

Where’s the evidence that this racism is inherent? Well, the fact that there are so many hoaxes!

Racism is so pervasive that we have to fake incidents of it to make people aware of just how pervasive it is!
- lspanker
  
  Racism is so pervasive that we have to fake incidents of it to make people aware of just how pervasive it is!
  
  Same with so-called “campus rape culture” – they have to make up accusations to prove it exists.
- Giordi
  
  So, assuming you have kids, if there were a jihadist threat placed against their school, one with a given date and claiming to come from a violent jihadist group (take your pick), how would you like the authorities and your community to react?
  - lspanker
    
    So, assuming you have kids, if there were a jihadist threat placed against their school, one with a given date and claiming to come from a violent jihadist group (take your pick),
    
    There’s a huge difference between a known “violent jihadist group” (and FWIW, most LE and intelligence agencies in the US have ways of determining whether such threats come from genuine groups as opposed to random fruitcakes calling in crank threats) and a 15-year-old kid doing an amateur screen hack. Once again, apples and oranges.
    - Giordi
      
      I think you are misunderstanding my hypothetical scenario. It is this. The message on the screen at BHS is not against blacks and claims allegiance to the KKK, but against infidels and claims allegiance to Al Qaeda. The perpetrator’s identity is still unknown. Again, both are likely hoaxes, but I want to know whether there is a difference in treatment.
      - lspanker
        
        I think you are misunderstanding my hypothetical scenario.
        
        I understand perfectly. You’re showing your total lack of common sense by trying to whip up hysteria over some idiotic stunt pulled off by a 15-year-old kid, who has NO ability whatsoever to pull off his laughable threat.
        
        The message on the screen at BHS is not against blacks and claims allegiance to the KKK, but against infidels and claims allegiance to Al Qaeda.
        
        What part of “15-year-old kid” do you NOT understand?
        
        No wonder the vast majority of people in this country think Berkeley is full of kooks.
      - Giordi
        
        where did you get that he is 15? No seriously, is that known information?
      - lspanker
        
        where did you get that he is 15?
        
        The writing style of his post (have you actually seen it?) is that of a 15-year-old, and in all likelihood he’s between 13 and 17 years old. The threatening message was a screen hack, not something that originated from an outside server. Seriously now, what part of “high school” do you NOT understand?
s randall

Seems to me that the responsible student needs some help. Apparently he’s going to get a lot of it.
Aldous Orwell

Now THIS is a truly race-blind disciplinary policy!

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