What do you think the school should be doing to prevent this type of crime?

I think there should be video cams in every spot in ETHS where something like this could happen again.
Did the creep have a weapon, and threaten the girl if she screamed, or even her family?? He got her alone somehow.
And maybe it really is time, to get body scanned as you walk into the building.
I hope her parents press charges against him and they follow through. The Evanston Police Dept has a very helpful Victim Services Unit.The kid who assaulted her should be expelled from ETHS.Also, we should all stand up and applaud this young lady for reporting this crime. This is a very difficult time for her, and her family, and she is obviously a strong young lady.

This is most likely NOT the first time the juvenile male has committed a crime. I bet he has been in trouble before.

My comment on the subject was struck down by Patch.com moderators - who loathe free speech and opinions. Heaven forbid I should suggest that the players involved were ethno-rican, and had not only jeopardized their promising young futures in this stupid situation, but that the male pursuant should be neutered in an effort to gain back what little credibility he'll have left after this sad scenario.

Wow- This is unbelievable. The third major issue at this school in three weeks. My husband and I've decided that ETHS is no longer an option for our children. Getting rid of honors classes, girls getting assaulted in the hallways?
I don't know what is going on over there, but we no longer want any part of it.
Sad. This high school used to be ranked in the top 10 statewide. Now it's not even in the top 150.

The school should hold the students more accountable. And so should parents...

Not certain on what the school should do but Clearly the PARENTS have a task to accomplish. MORALS and SELF-RESPECT has not been instilled. VALUES start in the home and I Pray parents will view this as a mirror into the needs of our children.

I haven't had a child in ETHS in over 10 years and is not familiar with security procedures, however, it would appear that each security person should have a permanent post on each floor and in each of the north, south, east and west wings of the school. Security personnel should also be constantly walking the halls with walkie talkies and making their presence known. I've heard that security is lax and I don't know how true that is, but, the school is extremely large with a huge population and the students deserve better care. I would think
that If this sort of crime was done in the hallway, it's obvious that the student felt safe committing this crime because he knew there wasn't any security in place.

Emily, glad to see you are interested in your readers' thoughts. I am not from this area, however I am active in sex crime legislation reform, so stories like this are something I follow closely. Unfortunately, not just in IL but in many states, law enforcement and lawmakers themselves are not educated on the basic facts on sex crimes (or at least, they tend to skew facts in their favor). How is the public - let alone children - supposed to know, if they cannot depend on public policy-makers and enforcers to educate them?

Sexual assault awareness is great, but only if it's accurate. Children DO commit sex crimes, in fact juveniles comprise over a quarter of all registered sex offenders and they also account for over a third of crimes committed against other children. (US Dept of Justice study: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/227763.pdf). Children are much more likely to be victimized by someone they know, who has no prior sex crime conviction.

The school, parents and the community need to remember that both the victim and offender are children and should be treated as such. It's very easy to react with fury and hysteria when something so shocking happens, but a level-headed response based on facts instead of emotion will ensure the safety of all involved.

Students also need to be made aware that activities like sexting, taking/sending nude photos, and consensual sex with underage partners are considered sex crimes and can put them on the registry.

ETHS has cameras in stairways and hallways. Do they work? Is anyone watching the them?

How about installing security cameras in the stairwells? That's a "public" space, and cameras are no more an invasion of privacy than security guards being there in person. It would provide a measure of security, accountability and deterrence, and costs far less than hiring additional staff (which may not be in the budget at this time).

As for the comment by "Sam" asserting that security staff cannot be expected to prevent sexual assaults because they have their hands full preventing riots: Are you saying that the status quo is acceptable? If you had a daughter attending ETHS, I can't believe you'd find it acceptable to be told that security can't protect her from being sexually on campus because they have "more important" things to do. If security is that overtaxed, then there needs to be a systemic change not only in how security is provided, but also in how students who commit dangerous/violent acts are dealt with.

Cameras in all stairwells, to start.

A 14 year old knows the difference between right and wrong. What is this kid missing?

'True dat' Frank. I understand that not all parents participate on the PTO board, or other community influence groups, but if they can't get a family around the dinner table once a week, then they can start there. How, in your opinion, might the school hold students more accountable? Could schools, hold parents accountable?

Think more has to ome out as to what took place. Was it an assault (as stated) or ok with both parties.

Its true we don't know, probably won't ever know.

Forgive me for making this observation, but the incident at ETHS is just a sign of the times. American society immerses our children in sex. Turn on the television and it's just sex, sex and more sex. (Perhaps the only television where sex isn't featured is professional baseball and pro hockey.) The internet is just sex on demand. Not sure when this trend started, but women these days take great delight in showing cleavage-everything that they wear is low-cut so as draw attention to their breasts. What's the point of that? As a male, it seems pretty obvious to me what the point of showing cleavage is.

Given the emphasis on sex, what would you expect our children to do? The only thing that's surprising about this incident is that it doesn't happen more often. So let's stop blaming the security at the high school and let's identify the real culprits in this incident. The real culprit in this incident can be found by looking in the mirror.

I guess I'll get some wild reaction from women about how I'm anti-woman. Sorry, but I can't think of anything more anti-woman than sexualizing our young children, particularly our young girls.

I'm not suggesting that women wear burkas, but how about women dressing a little more modestly and giving some thought to the example they set for our children. It's time to turn off the television until more appropriate programming is shown. It's up to you ar

Hang on folks, the student was charged and not convicted right? So slow down until all the facts come out. Also, I understand a safety officer was on patrol when he stopped the "sexual assault". It appears the Safety Department was doing their job. Now if the story read the assault occurred and no safety arrived to "save" the victim then that would be a different story. I just hope all the media outlets come back to report the updated story if and when it breaks.

I think that s___t happens and it happens all over. Margaret? you can wear a bag over your head, if you don't think peer pressure/drugs/bullying/phones getting stolen, etc, don't happen at every high school in America. It happens on the el, it happens downtown, it happens everywhere. Bullying? it even happens in the work place. Its a part of life.
Sex in the hallway/stairwell? It IS shocking. I am glad the security guard was there.
I have a kid at ETHS, a senior. Yes, she heard about it. Her version was different.
The police say it was not a random act.
The school cannot be "held accountable" for this act.
They teach our children, the school cannot parent our children.
Ask your kid where he wants to go. Remember, stuff happens at every high school.
I have had kids at ETHS for the past 6 years. The dedication of the ALL the staff
impresses me. If your kid needs help, all he has to do is ask.
I can walk into the building anytime and feel very comfortable and safe.
By the time a kid is a junior, the parents aren't that involved. At 18, kids are considered adults. We know they still do stupid things but thats part of learning about life. ETHS is a good school and it is in a good community, and it's a little town of 5000 people Monday thru Friday.

i have a daughter at eths and drive her to school. i'm appalled at some of the outfits the girls wear to school. they look like hookers. how a parent can let their kid walk out of the house is beyond me. maybe the mom dresses like a slut herself. i have the perfect answer: uniforms. make these kids look presentable at school. they are there to learn, not showoff the latest slutty fashion or have their jeans saggin' down to their knees. i can't wait to read some of the weirdos replies to my post.

my take is this "assualt" was consensual and when they got caught in the stairwell, the "victin" cried "rape".

As far as the clothes go, I rarely notice what my girl is wearing so it can't be too outrageous.
Obviously these 2 kids know each other. They go to school together.
It could have been consensual, or NOT.
For the kids at the school, its done, its over, forget about it, move on.
While you might be appalled at what kids wear, its called todays fashion!
When I went to hs, mini-skirts were in and we wore our UNIFORM skirt as short as we possibly could. We rolled it up at the waist.

Sully: "So Richard, if a female is wearing a certain kind of clothing, she should expect to be sexually assaulted? In other words, she's asking for it? I dislike the provocative clothing as well, but that is not an open invitation to be assaulted."

Sully, that's the best response you can come up with? Sounds like you're reading right off your cue cards. You really didn't read my comment, or maybe you just didn't understand it. It's a societal problem. Television is just sex, sex, sex. The internet is a great research tool and is even more sex. And then, of course, we have President Clinton teaching every young person in America about oral sex and the recent revelations about President Kennedy and his 19 year old mistress cavorting in the swimming pool in the White House. Am I suggesting that all of the above was the direct cause of the incident at ETHS? Yes, pretty much. Can I prove it? Of course not, but what we've had is a coarsening (sp?) of the culture since the 1960's and my generation is responsible for that coarsening.

The First Lady, Hillary Clinton, should have kicked the President of the United States out of the White House and worked with Republicans to impeach the cad and let Vice President Al Gore take over. (If Hillary had done that, Gore would have defeated George Bush in the 2000 election. Well, maybe it's a good thing that Hillary just stood by President Bill and let Bill make a fool out of her.)

Oh, and Rich, sexual assault is not a recent development, nor is it strictly American. It has existed forever and has occurred in other cultures.

Sully: "This is a fricking opinion."

An example of what I'm talking about. . . Sully can't even comment on a sexual assault without using crude sexual language. You are part of the problem, sir.

And if you look at the thread, it was you who took me to task. Sully, do you feel compelled to comment on every post I make? Sully is a Democrat operative assigned the task to follow me around on Patch.

Richard, please grow up. Crude sexual language? Democrat operative assigned to follow you on Patch? Right, Rich. You are that important. Sorry to say, you're simply a man with an inflated opinion of himself.

Shana, I believe Illinois did pass the bill to enforce all of the AWA, but is still trying to gauge the overall cost. Other states have had difficulty with funding and I think that includes Ohio (don't quote me on that, though).

The more that is being said within the halls of the school is leading to the charge being dropped. It is being said the "victim" was afraid because she was "c.i.t.a".

I find it interesting that many men have posted their belief that the act was consensual on the part of the 15 year old girl. As a woman, I find myself agreeing. When you think about it, she could have or should have defended herself in some manner. I can reasonably assume that the whole story hasn't been exposed. Unless the young man had a weapon, I'm confused as to why the act went as far as it did. On another note, we really don't know what goes on in some of these young people homes. We don't know what they are exposed to or how they're disciplined or what morals they're taught. It's really a shame and disgrace and the parents have failed miserably.

Tea, I have to disagree. It's easy to say she should have been able to stop him. I have no idea what really happened, but take for an example, a small female walking ahead of a larger, stronger male who suddenly grabs her from behind with no warning. Her initial response would probably be one of disbelief or denial that something like this was happening to her, and then by the time she realizes it, it could be too late for her to fend him off. Being bigger and stronger, the male would definitely have the upper hand. It would take incredible strength and perfectly clear thinking for a young girl to know what to do to get out of this situation.

Honestly, we don't know the hows or the whys. I agree that her initial response would be one of disbelief or denial, and in this case, she knows the guy. If she is in a relationship with him, what kind of relationship is it? Is it a healthy relationship? OR is it power, control and manipulation? I am sure she was afraid. I do not think it was consensual. A 15 year old does not think like an adult. If some jack___ grabbed me, I would try to fight back. But could I? Would I be thinking fast enough to do that?
When I was 17, I went out to get in our car in the alley behind our house. It was a dark summer night. There was a guy behind standing behind the garage. This guy took a few steps towards me, and I tried to scream. Nothing came out, I so scared, I could not scream. I was able to run, and ran back into the house & told my dad and older brothers.
So, its easy to say what someone should do.

I didnt say he was guilty. I have no clue as to the actual details. I stated that. It very well may have been consentual. But if it was not, I disagree that she should have been able to stop him. And Leroy, if you look at the statistics, when it's a he said-she said, it's usually the he that ends up winning in the courts. Playing the victim card for men is kind of weak.

In the what ifs of life, if she was not forced, and they both decided to fool around, in the stairwell, they both need to accept the consequences of their actions. It's not appropriate behavior at school. And they both need to know that. Kids do stupid things everyday and yes, sometimes, they do need to go to court, so that they understand, that they can't just do what they want when they want. It's not that easy to stand in front of a judge in juvenile court.
Even if the charges are dropped, they have both been humiliated and maybe thats
the punishment.

Is it any wonder that the incident at ETHS occurred given the example that adults set for our children? This week the Secret Service prostitution scandal in Columbia made the news. A year ago, it was recently married Congressman Anthony Weiner (D) sending pictures of his genitalia to a 22 year old woman while his wife was pregnant. And then there was married Governor Elliott Spitzer (D) who resigned after his affair with a Washington DC prostitute came to light. Spitzer was rewarded with his own show on CNN.

Aside from the sexual exploits of President Clinton (D) and President Kennedy (D) being publicly discussed, the all time champion of sexual exploits was Senator Ted Kennedy (D) who drove off a bridge late at night and left a young female aide to drown without reporting the incident in the late 1960's who was rewarded for this deed by being re-elected time after time by the people of Massachusetts (instead of spending time in prison) and who even dared to run for the office of the President of the United States in 1980.

It's likely that the young man involved in this incident at ETHS has a successful career in (Democrat) politics ahead of him. Why should our children think that what happened at ETHS was unacceptable behavior given our lax standards of behavior by men in our highest public offices?

Some really great statements here. Hey Richard, I feel the same way about Spitzer. What a hypocrite he is! Annie, you make a good point too. The charges will probably get dropped soon if they have not been already. That school needs a complete overhaul! The kids run it. They have no fear of facing consequences so they treat adults and each other with little or no respect. They know the punishment is laughable. You have no idea how many kids have been caught selling or using drugs, having sex, carrying weapons more than once and are still students. It is not a safe place. Your tax dollars are being abused people.

Of course! It's all the democrats fault! Richard, not everything is a result of political ideology so get over it. There are just as many cases involving republicans. It's a HUMAN issue, Rich, not a political one.

Leroy,
I can't say I agree with you that the kids run the school. My child told me just the other day, that its a "police state". The sec guards yell at you if you aren't in class without a pass. Can't get out at lunch time if you don't have your ID. Drugs? Kids pass pills in the hallways easily, and if they get caught, they are out. For example, if your kid takes Xanax for medication, don't be surprised if your kid sells a few on the side for a few bucks. Sex? I am sure kids have been doing it for years. Everyone knows who the pushers are. If you want drugs you can get them. Both of my kids have been offered heroin on the campus, & both said nope. If you use heroin once, you are hooked. The dealers pass it out like candy for free, at ALL high schools, so they can hook in the suburban kids. Parents have to be aware of whats going on with their kids. Some parents don't want to know or are in denial. If you give your kid $20 a day or on Fridays, you have to wonder where that money is going.
It does bother me that you're saying kids are carrying guns because no one carries an unloaded gun. I would like to see metal detectors at the doors.
The kids that want to go somewhere in life can get a good education at ETHS. There are always a few bad apples in every crowd. Both my kids have told me you learn to navigate around the troublemakers.

leroy, whats a c.i.t.a.?? (Christians In Theatre Arts??)

Hello Again everyone. About two years ago, when my granddaughter was 9 years old, one of her male classmates reached over and touched her private area. My granddaughter punched the young boy in his face with her fist and screamed and ran to her teacher. I was so proud of how my granddaughter defended herself. In both her home and mine, our girls are reminded constantly that no one touches them and how to defend themselves. The teachings starts at home. Of course, if the person assaulting you is bigger and stronger, the situation changes, but a woman should still be capable of defending herself. In all seriousness, I have no clue as to how I would react or respond to an assault, but, pray that I don't lose my sense of defense. Again, none of us knows for sure what really happened in this situation and consensual behavior is still a probability. By the way-the little boy who touched my grandchild was simply expelled from school for a week and his parents never showed at the school for a conference or apologized or gave an explanation regarding their son's behavior.

Look up Larry Craig and Mark Foley, Richard. While you're at it, how about David Vitter, John Ensign and Mark Samford? Make it political and blame the dems (just as you do for everything else under the sun), but the truth is, it's a human condition, not a political one.

Tea, I agree with you 100%. My kids have grown up knowing its NOT ok to let someone hit or touch them inappropriately. Still, its easier said than done. Some kids can fight back and some kids can't. At teenage age, for a girl, if you like the guy, you might not fight back, rather you might accept it. Sad isn't it?
As far as the parents go with that boy, perhaps the parents were so embarrassed, and maybe they really did not know what to do. Who knows, maybe the little boy sees his father grab his mother that way and he is repeating what he sees.

before eveyone assumes a crime took place, hold those thoughts until all the facts are in. I have no defense for anyone who sexually assaults anyone else, however let's wait and be sure that's what it was. based on most of the comments posted here, the student arrested has been convicted of the crime he is accused and people are convicting his parents as well as the school. his guilt is not determined merely at his arrest.

Richard, can you just for one second consider that not everything is centered around you or is not always a political issue? You treat everything as a personal attack, no matter the subject.

When you read here, or in the newspaper, "a sexual assault took place at OUR high school, its bound to cause a reaction. But? things aren't always what they seem, and
really we can't believe everything we read.
As a parent, this is what I know, its the toughest job in the world, you don't get paid for it. Until you have a child, you have NO idea, whats its about. From 14-19, its the hardest time of a parents life. Teenagers are impulsive people, and its me, me, and me. Every parent I know, has one kid who has been in trouble at some point,:curfew,pot, booze, speeding way over the limit, whatever it is, from every hs around here. As parents, we can't get rid of them, they are ours! And if we look back, we weren't saints either when we were young. We all did very stupid things.
When our kids make mistakes, we don't love them any less. Hopefully we are there for them to help them thru the difficulty. At some point in time, they have to accept and be responsible for their own actions. If they continue to make those bad choices, there are bigger consequences,like getting kicked out of school, or jail, or something being on their record for the REST of their life. There is no perfect parent and there is no perfect child. This is a tough time for both kids, their parents, and their siblings. If you know them, be supportive of them, whatever the outcome is. We never know what tomorrow brings.

....did anyone hear that the charges have been dropped against the boy? if they have, the police should say so. thanks.

After someone is arrested, you never hear about it again. I would be surprised if we ever hear anything about it.

I wanted to make sure you all saw today's story on how teens can protect themselves from sexual violence and who to turn to should they become victims. Regardless of what exactly happened or who is to blame, this is important information.
http://patch.com/A-sDgq

As a student that attends this school the security shouldn't be at fault for others people actions and especially when they have to deal with thousands of kids at a time. Instead the kids trying to have sex they should've been in class with their heads in the books. Place blame where blame is due and don't use others as scapegoats.