7 Charged With Cheering At Graduation

Spectators Arrested, Accused Of Disorderly Conduct At High School Ceremony In Columbia, S.C.

(AP)  When Rock Hill school officials tell commencement crowds to hold their applause until the end, they mean it - police arrested seven people after they were accused of loud cheering during the ceremonies.

Six people at Fort Mill High School's graduation were charged Saturday and a seventh at the graduation for York Comprehensive High School was charged Friday with disorderly conduct, authorities said. Police said the seven yelled after students' names were called.

"I just thought they were going to escort me out," Jonathan Orr told The Herald of Rock Hill, about 70 miles north of Columbia. "I had no idea they were going to put handcuffs on me and take me to jail."

Orr, 21, spent two hours in jail after he was arrested when he yelled for his cousin at York's commencement at the Winthrop University Coliseum.

Rock Hill police began patrolling commencements several years ago at the request of school districts who complained of increasing disruption. Those attending commencements are told they can be prosecuted for bad behavior and letters are sent home with students, said Rock Hill police spokesman Lt. Jerry Waldrop.

All the cases, except for one that includes a resisting arrest charge, will be handled in city court and are punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Orr said he thinks people should be allowed to cheer.

"For some people, it might be the only member of their family to graduate high school, and it was like a funeral in there," Orr said.

William Massey, 19, was arrested but said he plans to fight the charge. He said he simply "clapped and gave a little whoop" when his fiancee's name was called. Massey said there were warnings before the ceremony but none that said he could be arrested.

He said not everyone who cheered was arrested.

"There's a lot more people that did it than six or seven," said Massey, who graduated from Fort Mill last year.

Fort Mill Principal Dee Christopher says school officials don't ask that offenders be arrested but that he plans to keep a police presence at future graduation ceremonies.

"We think it's important for every graduate's name to be heard and for every person in the arena to be able to see that student cross the stage. ... That's why we have disruptive guests removed," he said.

Last year in Galesburg, Ill., five students were denied diplomas from the city's lone public high school after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during commencement. Students could get their diplomas after completing eight hours of public service for the school district.

[gopsoccermom]

Its the PC police. They dont want people cheering because some may get more cheering than others. Liberals are pathetic.

[honestabe8]

I don''t know how gopsoccermom got liberals out of this, but then she/he is a troll anyway. imagine that, people cheering at a graduation. fringging swine

[rconross]

This has got to be the most egregious waste of public resources that I have ever seen! It is also a complete violation of our right to free speech. I am astounded that any town or city council overseeing a school department would allow this type of policy to go stand. All this will do is cause a ton of lawsuits and another egregious waste of public money. Shame on them!

[bigkenny100]

It says the school told people to hold there applause so how is it the police fault when they are doing there job.

[mollydtt]

I think the handcuffs are a bit much. At my daughter''s middle school graduation, people''s names indeed were missed due to cheering, so in a way it is kind of rude to erase other people just so you can make a lot of noise for one student. Also, it seems like the students that have the most importance are the sports players. They get lots of noise, and the rest of the student body is just dirt.
But, handcuffs? It is inconsiderate, but hardly worth jailtime for.

[pollroller1]

I think arresting someone for cheering is kinda over the top. Removing them from from the arena is OK, but I don''t think that they should be arrested.

[fabrat1]

That''s so stupid. This just shows that all they care about is getting it over with as quickly as possible. This is a day to celebrate what each student has done to earn their deploma and they should be able to cheer on their family and friends!! The so called staff that have decided not to allow cheering need to look and see why they''re in this job in the first place. If it''s not for the kids then get out but if it is you need to get over yourself and let this really be a celebration. Here our graduations are wonderful. Everyone cheers and blows horns and whistles and claps and you name it. We just give time after each name is called so that the cheering can died down enough to hear the next name......Wow.. now how hard is that?

[naucoming4u]

Now THIS is an example of FASCISM!

[craigh9]

Educators try to run absolutely everything and as a group they have the least amount of common sense and understanding of the real world. Talk about a bunch of idiots imposing their will upon a group of people THAT PAY THEIR SALARIES.
..and before people write back that not all educators are like this my response is - IF THEY ALLOW THE JERKS TO ESTABLISH THE RULES THEY ARE JUST LIKE THEM.

[walkshe]

This is the problem with giving idiots too much power...it goes to their heads. First, no prayers at commencement - now no celebration. What''s next...just do away with it all together and just mail the diplomas? It''s time for us "regular folks" to stand up against idiots in power.

[imotorist]

You always have rude obnoxious people at these events. They don''t believe the rules are for them. their $hit don''t stink.

[displeased]

I''ve attended several graduations and the request to not cheer during the announcements is common. I can understand emotions are high for students'' achievements, but if everybody cheered for every student, the ceremony would last for hours. Apparently it''s human nature for some to be rude and drown out the announcements of fellow graduates. I can understand the administration to request not cheering until the end, but to arrest them is over the top.

[hologram5]

This is indeed over the top to arrest someone for being proud of their child or relative. sounds like the school district needs to be boycotted till they come off their high horse and integrate into reality. another classic example of the police state we are now living in.

[craigh9]

IS IT NOT A CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENT? ASKING FOR A BRIEF SHOW OF SUPPORT IS ONE THING, ABSTINANCE IS QUITE ANOTHER.

[craigh9]

My home school district graduates roungly 600 students annually and hasn''t found it necessary to do something this ridiculous. Educators are unable to make distinctions about any form of conduct. Their entire process consists of acceptable/nonacceptable - they only look at things as balck and white - it their training - if they had to go out into the real world they would not survive.

[bigsk8fan]

who cares if someone cheers for each and every person getting a diploma? yes, this is probably another george w bush type of conspiracy against the common man.

[soupskin1]

Now THIS is an example of FASCISM! NAUcoming4U, I agree.

[mandylou4u]

I can remember when I graduated high school, we all cheered for each other, but we didn''t keep yelling, it was a quick "yeah" and then we were quiet for the next name. Our graduation ended up being a little longer because of our small interuptions. No one complained and everyone had a great time. These kids only get to graduate one time and graduation only comes one time a year. A little extra time shouldn''t matter that much. If someone was being totaly disruptive, I can see them being escorted out, but the kids shouldn''t be remembering their graduation because they got arrested. They should all be able to enjoy that day. Being it''s the only day they will graduate high school.

[extremophil]

I can see the schools point, though. Graduation was once a dignified occasion, but now it''s like a bowling-alley party.

P.S. Congratulations to bigsk8fan for actually managing to blame this one on George Bush.

[mandylou4u]

I''m pretty sure the kids have lost respect and that''s why the school is trying to stop them from cheering. Kids should be allowed to cheer, but stop immediatly so other names can be heard. Alot of that probably has to do with the decline of parenting over the last 10 years or so. I know if I had disobeyed the school in any way, my mom would have let me know about respect, quickly. Todays kids have parents that unfortunately do too many drugs or just plain work too much and don''t have any time for their family anymore.

[professsor]

Some families have become so rude at graduation that they ruin the ceremony. Many of these people make it a point to keep yelling when the next student comes on the stage. I agree that arresting families at graduation is an over-reaction. However, disruptive people do need to be removed from the building. I applaud this school for trying to do something to restore order to their ceremony.

[displeased]

I''''m pretty sure the kids have lost respect and that''''s why the school is trying to stop them from cheering. Kids should be allowed to cheer, but stop immediatly so other names can be heard.
Posted by mandylou4u

It''s typically the families and friends that do the inappropriate cheering. I guess you''re right, it''s bad parenting when it''s the parents themselves who are instigating rudeness.

[xraytwonine]

this is probably another racism movement; whites afraid of loud and happily graduated blacks therefore send cops after them...

[sroal2002]

this is probably another racism movement; whites afraid of loud and happily graduated blacks therefore send cops after them...

Nice Xraytwon....

you forgot to mention that they''ll probably cry wolf that the cops beat them up in the parking lot and stole their lunch money.

great job on playing the race card. Typical

[awbsdad]

I applaud them. (lol) When my son graduated, we were told no cheering. A few did and were escorted out. Graduation had gotten to where cow-bells were brought in and people rang them. A whole family would whoop and holler and when the next person''s name was called, their family missed out on the glorious occasion.
People have lost respect for others. Thanks for bringing dignity back.

I am also from South Carolina. Maybe the South will rise again and teach manners!!!

[sallyr3]

this is probably another racism movement; whites afraid of loud and happily graduated blacks therefore send cops after them...


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by xraytwonine at 10:34 AM : Jun 11, 2008
+ report abuse
How pathetic. And you say white people start the racism. All should behave respectfully for each graduate no matter what the color.

[impeach_w]

It is called free speech. It this country you cannot curb it and it should be protected against armed government violation of your basic civil rights by lethal force when possible and lawsuit if not.

[dronemonk]

Proto-fascist police state *** slobbering is soooo un-American.

Is it too late to let the south secede?

[pigmanb]

THE 2 SCHOOLS MENTIONED HERE HAVE CROSSED THE LINE. OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS ERRODING A LITTLE EVERYDAY, BY COMMUNIST LEADERS IN THE ROLES AS SCHOOL OFFICALS. I''M PRETTY SICK OF HOW SCHOOLS WANT TO CONTROL EVERYTHING FROM HOW OUR KIDS DRESS TO IF THEY ARE ALLOWED TO CARRY A BIBLE WITH THEM TOO CLASS. GRADUATION IS SUPPOSED TO BE A JOY FILLED DAY LET ''EM CHEER!!!!!!!!

[dobbershome]

Power to the people man! Were under a Nazi attack

[dobbershome]

Power to the people man! Were under a Nazi attack

[aaabee-2009]

Wow. Arrested for cheering.

[armydog2]

this is all petty bs,I was at my stepsons graduation from Bloomsburg University in May, we were told the same, Icalled out to him when he received his degree, I am very proud of him. Nobody arrested me.

[awbsdad]

If blacks cheer, you call it racism. What about when the whites cheer? They are just as guilty. Come one people, SHOW RESPECT to the graduates. The ones cheering are probably the parents of those who caused troublin in school, being suspended...barely passing. They are glad, I am sure. But think, some of these are students are parents now whom WE are supporting and awarding with Medicaid and government help.

Let those who workede HARD for and are upstanding young men and women enjoy their 10 seconde of glory walking across the stage. Loud yelling is disrepectful and uncalled for in ANY occasion, unless it is a sporting event.

Seems to me the rules were plain and simple. Wait until the end after the names were called. I am all for it, because when people are taping the graduation, the most important thing they want is to hear the name of the person they are there for. Then all the cheering, air horns and obnoctious people yelling and screaming drowns out the names that are being called. So you''re excited, we all are, but self control is the key issue and following rules is important. What message is being put out there by the parents that scream free speach? DON''T FOLLOW THE RULES if you don''t want to? Total lack of respect for others and no dicipline in self control. When my daughter graduated, there was someone right behind me with an air horn, and the first time he blasted it, I took it away and destroyed it and told him he was asked not to bring one. He didn''t have a problem with me, because when he saw me crush the can, he decided his self control of wetting himself was more important. See what happens when we let the government tell us how to dicipline our children? They are now the ones who are disruptive in crowds and have zereo respect for others.

[displeased]

Posted by mitchoncbs

Airhorns? Wow, now that''s over the top. I''ve only had to deal with hootin and hollerin and barking like dogs.

Now I''m starting to understand why schools are fighting back.

[Syndicate]

Seems to me the rules violate the constitution of the United States. The school which is an agent of the government has no right to limit speech in any way shape or form except in the case of public safety. These graduations are for the children so let them make the rules. If they want their family to cheer when their name is called so be it. Further more the schools decision to punish the students for the actions of friends and family sounds like something out of a Facist regime. I think the school has set it self up for a lawsuit. And I think the police are guilty of violating the revelers civil rights.

[rf35]

I fully support the rule but not the reaction. When you have a large graduating class, it would take hours if each one was cheered for individually. I, for one, just wanted to get the ceremony over with. The offenders could have just been removed...the jail stay is really pushing it.

[bobnjersey]

[All the cases, except for one that includes a resisting arrest charge, will be handled in city court and are punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. ]

arrested for cheering? maybe thinking will be next.

[credibility2]

Good. I''m sick and tired of being at gatherings where moronic ignorant individuals yell, scream, whistle and carry-on like a bunch of barbarians just to draw attention to themselves. Too many individuals nowadays are rude and disrespectful of the rights of others. In the setting of the graduation, the rules and laws were clearly in place. This is another example of some trying to push the envelope and thumb their noses at order, rules and laws. The majority of those in attendance didn''t have any problem complying, but it''s always a few who think they''re special and can do whatever they want. It''s called thinking I''m entitled to anything and everything without having to be considerate for anything else. This is part of the declining culture of idiots who continue to try and ruin everything and in many instances are winning. They''re a bunch of imbeciles and morons.

[displeased]

These graduations are for the children so let them make the rules. If they want their family to cheer when their name is called so be it. Further more the schools decision to punish the students for the actions of friends and family sounds like something out of a Facist regime.
Posted by cbscrash07

Are the students being punished? They should be on stage. I think it''s the parents and friends that do the cheering from the audience that are requested to refrain. This is a public ceremony. If your cheering is to the point where it''s affecting somebody else''s participation, then it''s not right. It''s a matter of consideration and respect, not free speech.

[gbdmd]

Okay, this is got to be the stupidest thing I''ve ever heard. There is a difference between cheering and disorderly conduct. It seems as if schools across America have lost the ability to exercise common sense and a total lack of ability to evaluate reasonable behavior. There''s a huge difference between someone cheering, "You go girl" or "That''s right baby" and someone sounding an airhorn or other extremely loud behavior. It seems everyday saddens me to be American.

[jlagat]

lol @ the South.... again.

CBS might as well get the headline ready:

"Eleven people promptly executed at University of South Carolina for smiling at relative''s graduation."

In all seriousness, this story is along the lines of North Koreans being thrown in prison of they didn''t cry enough when their "Great Leader" Kim Il-sung died.

Yes Southerners... I just compared you to North Koreans.

[briannorwood]

Maybe they should assign Jim Nifong as District Attorney in this case!

[impeach_w]

I''d like to see a large redneck family start cheering and turn that place into a wresting match as soon as even one of those goon cops took a step in thier direction.

If it was me, I''d still be beating on them. You are protected from fasle arrests by the law. If the cops don''t seem to know the law, Until you see a judge enforce your rights by any means necessary.

[missybelle-2009]

This crime should be punished with a long prison term and possibly even execution by lethal injection. But, seriously, ARREST? Escorting them out would have been enough.

[missybelle-2009]

And don''t compare Southerners to North Koreans and expect to be taken seriously, jlagat. Just goes to show how ignorant you are.

impeach_w, now that was a typical moronic response. You are an idiot and doubt you would ever do someting like that....

[sroal2002]

lol @ the South.... again.

Yes Southerners... I just compared you to North Koreans.
Posted by jlagat

I tip my glass of sweet tea to you. For promptly re-writing the record books for the asinine.

Cheers. Now let me get back to my bbq sammich. Feel free to enlighten us with some other nonsense after lunch.

[anonymouse88]

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


Bad Cop, no doughnut...