Illinois students denied diplomas for noise. Is it fair?

Question

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070601/ap_on_re_us/graduation_decorum

I have noticed that certain minority races do seem to make more noise than necessary. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Answer 1

I read the article. People were warned in advance about the consequences and some chose to ignore that warning, They seem to need lessons in decorum and etiquette.

However, I think there should have been some other type of repercussion other than denying the students their diplomas.
I don't know how legally the school board can keep the diplomas away from these students if they met the criteria for graduation.

Answer 2

Let me see now...they signed a statement promising they wouldn't do what they did. They were told what the consequences would be. They did it anyways, knowing it would ruin others experience.

Sounds fair to me. She's not even penalized...she still graduates. All she lacks is a piece of paper.

As for statements relating this to race based isses...I wonder what people would say if there had been no pictures...

Answer 3

I think its very simple - if the rules were clearly stated - "No noise" and someone made excessive noise then no diploma.

I do agree this seems slanted against minorities because in general (not everyone) they tend to be more verbally expressive at events like graduations, funerals etc. But obviously some white people are too.

Anyway, rules are rules.

Answer 4

Graduation is a boring ceremony. Cheering for the one you came to see is the only fun to be had. Can't they wait for the cheers to die down before calling the next name. After all, the crowd sat through all those boring speeches.