Students suspended as case closes on gay New York teen’s suicide
The school district which governs Williamsville North, the high school of the bullied gay teen Jamey Rodemeyer who committed suicide this year, has suspended students for their behaviour towards him before his death, Buffalo News reports.
Williamsville Central School District, in the state of New York, took action following the police investigation which resulted in no charges being made against students, but which highlighted several incidents over which the school could act.
The Superintendent, Scott Martzloff, said: “[The police] shared some information with us, and we followed up.
“We made the determination to take disciplinary action.”
Martzloff send his condolences to the Rodemeyer family. He did not identify which students were suspended, or say how many in total have been temporary excluded from the school. Students of the ages concerned cannot be expelled.
Last month, Police Chief John Askey, announcing that none of the incidents of bullying against Jamey Rodemeyer were prosecutable, and that he was “not satisfied” with the result.
As the incidents had not been brought to the school’s attention attention until after Jamey had died, students had not been disciplined for them.
Askey said: “The fact that it can’t be prosecuted shouldn’t be the measuring stick here. I think people know that it’s inappropriate, know that it’s unacceptable.
“I think a message has been sent.”
Buffalo News reports that while Jamey had problems outside school, the police had also found two incidents involving a female classmate calling him a “faggot”, a “fag”, and suggesting he commit suicide. The student’s family reportedly hired a lawyer shortly after she was first questioned by police.
Other incidents included a physical assault and comments about his sexuality.
These incidents were taken into account by the school board when identifying students for disciplinary action.
It was reported in October that a classmate of Jamey’s had been suspended for chanting that the teenager was “better off dead” at a school dance.
Lady Gaga reacted to Jamey’s death saying: “I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someones life … Bullying must become be illegal. It is a hate crime.”
Gaga added: “I am meeting with our president. I will not stop fighting. This must end. Our generation has the power to end it.”
