Every year, California's Escondido High School hosts a senior picnic at which students take their senior photos with t-shirts that spell out pre-approved words. One group of students decided to go off script, feeling the picnic presented the perfect platform for racism.
According to Buzzfeed News, 19-year-old student Cade Pannell posted a picture of students wearing spelling out "NNN***er!" with their shirts on his Instagram page. Pannell initially peeped the pic on Snapchat, and took a screenshot. He said he was "shocked it came from [his] high school."
Another group of students chose to spell out the homophobic slur, "f*g."
"Racism is definitely not a problem at our high school," said senior student Nyla McGlory. "A few students decided to spell out some dumb stuff to be funny in the moment, I guess, but that's not us or what most of us believe. Nothing like this has ever really happened before."
The San Diego area school posted an official statement on the matter on its official Facebook page.
"I want to assure you that actions have been taken and students are receiving consequences; however, specifics must remain confidential," Escondido High School's principal, Adriana Lepe-Ramirez, wrote about the incident. "We believe the lessons to be learned need to, and can, far exceed a period of punishment."
One student featured in the photos expressed regret to the Free Hugs Project. "I am scared to go back to school, but I am going to try and show people that's not who I really am because that's for sure not who I want to be," the student said. "I want to show people that's not right. I've learned from my mistakes."
The Escondido Police Department assisted in the investigation process. It isn't clear what punishment the students involved received, but Buzzfeed found the consequences they will face include being excluded from school clubs and being banned from walking during graduation.
Now, check these out:
