Wheaton Warrenville South Students Admit to Racial Slur, Taunting Lacrosse Players

Two Wheaton Warrenville South sophomores will face disciplinary action after taunting two African-American freshman lacrosse players from Naperville North High School at a game in Wheaton last Friday. 

Chicago Breaking News reported Tuesday that a Naperville North parent lodged a complaint to District 200 Monday, after her twin sons told her that they were the targets of racial slurs prior to their game against Wheaton Warrenville South. One of the students admitted using a racial slur and one admitted taunting the players.

According to Bob Rammer, assistant superintendent of operations for District 200, the Wheaton Warrenville South students were playing frisbee at Seven Gables Park and were leaving when the Naperville North bus arrived to play their game. The students saw the players arrive, made the "inappropriate, unacceptable" comments and left, Rammer said.

School officials initiated an aggressive and immediate investigation into what occurred Friday as soon as they were aware of it, Rammer said. He said that the student that admitted to the racial comment indicated that it was not racially-driven. "That doesn't negate the inappropriateness of the statement and unacceptability of the situation," Rammer said. 

Susan Rice, communications director for Naperville District 203 said in an email Wednesday, "This is an unfortunate incident that we do not feel reflects the overall attitudes of the administration and students of Wheaton (District) 200.

"...We support our students and regret that this was part of their experience. One truth that may come from all of this is an understanding that language has power and careful attention to our meaning and use of words must be paid," Rice said.

The Wheaton Warrenville South students are writing letters of apology to the Naperville North students and principal in addition to the disciplinary action they will face, Rammer said.

Read the full story on ChicagoBreakingNews.com.