Valedictorian denied diploma over speech

Anguirel · Post by **Anguirel** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 6:17 pm

Cool. I'm all for delivering scathing remarks in a public forum. The choice of venue might not have been quite appropriate, but if the administration really isn't willing to talk to the students about the issue (and someone on Student Council is likely to know that), and tried to hush up anyone trying to draw attention to the issues, this may have been the only place possible to attract the appropriate attention to the issue. If nothing it else, it took a lot of courage to make a speech like that, and I think it rules.

Chopper · Post by **Chopper** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 7:03 pm

Good for her.

Serious Paul · Post by **Serious Paul** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:13 pm

Can they legally deny her diploma from her?

Okay they don't like her speech, but do they have a legal leg to stand on? It seems pretty damn stupid to open yourself up for litigation like that.

MissTeja · Post by **MissTeja** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:20 pm

Whether she even had a game-plan or not, their actions really did play right into her hands. Their actions have given the issue much more publicity than it probably would have received, had they just given her a few dirty looks and let her on her way.

3278 · Post by **3278** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:39 pm

Serious Paul wrote:Can they legally deny her diploma from her?

I hope not. Certainly, they /shouldn't/ be able to.

Liniah · Post by **Liniah** » Sun Jun 27, 2004 11:43 pm

Exactly. That would be really fucked up if they were allowed to hold her diploma over free speach.

Chopper · Post by **Chopper** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 12:12 am

I only read my diploma a few times when I got it. It says something like, "For satisfactory completion of studies in mathamatics, english, ect..."

I don't remember the diploma including, "...and positive remarks about the school."

Rev · Post by **Rev** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:02 am

Eh, she already go into college anyway. The highschool diploma is totally worthless once you do that anyway.

MissTeja · Post by **MissTeja** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:37 am

Unless you plan on getting a job during those four years before you get your Bachelor's. Plus, to me it'd be about my pride.

Rev · Post by **Rev** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:54 am

I don't think anyone ever asked me anything about my highschool diploma for the four jobs I had in college. Usually they have that little check box thing and I would check "some college" for highest level of education.

This girl could also whip out the newspaper clippings. Thats far better evidence of her graduating highschool than a diploma!

mrmooky · Post by **mrmooky** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 3:25 am

Wow. That's quite impressive.

I hope the principal gets his ass kicked for this one. What was he thinking, denying her the diploma? He may as well drive up and down in front of the school with a megaphone, shouting, "not only are we subpar, but we're also fascists, and none too bright, either."

Anguirel · Post by **Anguirel** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 3:50 am

Rev wrote:Eh, she already go into college anyway. The highschool diploma is totally worthless once you do that anyway.

Many colleges stipulate "accetance to our school is contingent on you actually graduating high school and receiving your diploma." They may make an exception for this (I'd imagine they would) and they may even issue their own "high-school" diploma if she never receives the one from her previous school. I believe at least some colleges can do that, in theory, they just don't usually need to or want to get into secondary education. In that case it would be entirely on transfer credit, so they could probably get away with it.

Nightsky · Post by **Nightsky** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:53 am

If I was this girl's father I would want to strangle them for doing something like this with my bare hands. However, since I have a brain cell or two, I'd sue them. Making things an even bigger public notice than they already are.

mrmooky · Post by **mrmooky** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:45 am

I think it's a safe bet that the school will back down within a week.

TheScamp · Post by **TheScamp** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:04 pm

Well, isn't there a difference between graduation and getting the piece of paper?

Dvixen · Post by **Dvixen** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 7:28 am

mrmooky wrote:I think it's a safe bet that the school will back down within a week.

They backed down the next day.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/s ... 8321c.html

She gets her diploma tommorrow in a specially planned ceremony. (July 1)

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/artic ... er_speech/

Thorn · Post by **Thorn** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:09 am

Love this ending on the second article:

Mayor Michael Bloomberg on Monday called the withholding of the diploma "a bonehead thing to do by somebody."

You know you're done fucked up something, when the mayor characterizes your behavior as "bonehead" (sic).

DV8 · Post by **DV8** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 9:01 am

Well, then there's some who think Bloomberg is a bonehead.

It's like Chris Rock says; If you have a daughter, and she becomes a stripper, you fucked up.

mrmooky · Post by **mrmooky** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:03 am

Someone really ought to tell John Kerry that.

DV8 · Post by **DV8** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:04 am

John Kerry's daughter is a stripper?

mrmooky · Post by **mrmooky** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:46 am

In a sense. (Not work safe)

DV8 · Post by **DV8** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:00 am

Oh, please...

lorg · Post by **lorg** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:19 am

Agreeing with DV8 here ... PLEASE! That isn't even close ...

Thorn · Post by **Thorn** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:32 pm

Plus, considering the rather unattractively visible underwear, I'm pretty certain that's one of those situations where the exposure was unintentional.

Instant Cash · Post by **Instant Cash** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:46 pm

I still think she is sexy, not a stripper, but sexy.

TLM · Post by **TLM** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 1:11 pm

IC, have you been dipping into your emergency crack-stash? I mean... Look at her jaw, man! Jesus! Whatever else you can say about either Kerry, they sure ain't pretty.

mrmooky · Post by **mrmooky** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 6:41 am

Bah. I show you Kerry's daughter humorously naked, and all you people can do is complain. "But she's not a real stripper!" ...Ingrates.

Serious Paul · Post by **Serious Paul** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 10:48 am

Dude she looks like mr. Ed humped Celene Dion...

Cash · Post by **Cash** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 11:26 am

I've got to go with IC on this one.

And back to the original thread...the school caved. She's getting her diploma.

Eva · Post by **Eva** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 11:51 am

After the Mr Ed reference I /had/ to look and I've got to admit, I see where Paul's coming from on that one.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:46 pm

This brings up a question: are diplomas a school thing or a state thing? I know in the province I went to, some schools [including mine] offered a high school diploma of their own, in addition to the provincial diploma. You could still graduate from high school yet not graduate from YOUR high school, which is exactly what I did.

Serious Paul · Post by **Serious Paul** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:50 pm

In Michigan i believe it is a State Standard. You have to meet the minimum expectations for what a HS graduate must complete, and you can get a GED or HS Diploma.