Schools

ETHS Sexting Scandal: What Readers Are Saying

Evanston Township High School athletic director Chris Livatino pulled the baseball team from the playoffs following a school investigation of "sexting" among team members. See what readers had to say.

After school officials opened an investigation into “sexting” among members of the baseball team at Evanston Township High School, athletic director Chris Livatino pulled the team from the playoffs last week. 

In a letter to parents, Supt. Eric Witherspoon said that some female students had texted “inappropriate photos” to members of the boys varsity baseball team, some of whom had shred those photos amongst themselves. Witherspoon said the school had consulted both the Evanston Police Department and the Department of Children and Family Services, and neither agency planned to take action.

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Reacting to the news, some readers praised the school for its actions, while others said the decision might be unfair to players who weren’t involved in sending indecent photos. 

“Glad that the school has taken swift and decisive action that puts athletics in the right context of the overall welfare of the entire school community,” commented Dileep Gangoli.

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Reader David Lindgren, in contrast, described the athletic director’s reaction as “the dumbest, Victorian administrative decision that I ever heard.”

“You just ruined innocent young men and their dream because of your "fear" of what-will-people-think,” he wrote. “Two "kids" could have simply learned a lesson and you had to make it a provocative, public shaming of the whole team.”

Some readers questioned whether the girls who sent the photo should be punished, too. School officials have not responded to multiple e-mails and voicemails requesting more information on further consequences beyond the baseball team forfeiting the playoffs.

“Where’s the punishment for the females who sexted their photos to the players?” wrote a “Concerned Local Citizen.” 

“While the girls' actions were obviously wrong, no one forced the boys to share the inappropriate photos with each other or anyone else,” commented Mary P. Taylor. “Both groups of students were in the wrong, and both should be punished. That said, I'm happy that the police and DCFS are staying out of it and letting the school and parents handle the matter.”

Reader Coach Bolden praised the school’s reaction to the incident, and said the punishment might also help teach a lesson to other students. 

“The big picture in all of this is that through the disappointment of some young baseballers and the embarrassment of the female students, a life lesson may encourage better decision making in the future by all the youth involved,” he wrote. “The coach must use this as a life lesson to his players that actions do have consequences in our society.” 

Reader Michele S. Hays suggested cell phone providers could do more to protect children and parents. 

“Why is it that texts can be forwarded to phones other than the intended recipient?,” she wrote. “There are currently no available parental controls for text service, other than removing it.”

What's your reaction to allegations of 'sexting' at ETHS? Tell us in the comments. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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