$1,000 Reward

[Xenon]

http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/news/local/stat...on/15647874.htm

 

  Star Telegram said:

'Disgusting' graffiti found at Martin

By SHIRLEY JINKINS

STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER

 

ARLINGTON - Arlington school district officials are offering a $1,000 reward for information about who painted graffiti on the west side of Martin High School.

 

The graffiti was apparently done before students and teachers arrived for classes Friday morning. It disparaged a student who may have information about alleged sexual assaults that occurred just before the school year started. It was the latest development in police and school district investigations of two August incidents of underage drinking and the possible sexual assaults of four girls.

 

Superintendent Mac Bernd said he had never encountered graffiti so personal.

 

"I'm aware of the content of the graffiti, and I frankly find it repulsive and disgusting," Bernd said. "We also believe that any right-minded person would come forward with information. I can't imagine students at Martin High School would fail to disclose knowledge about this when it reflects so badly on the individuals involved."

 

The graffiti, which consisted of two sentences of white lettering on exterior walls and a sidewalk, was covered with paper until school officials could arrange for its removal.

 

Friday marked the end of a difficult week at the school. Several students who admitted to school officials that they violated the district's zero-tolerance policy on underage drinking were dropped from extracurricular activities for at least six weeks.

 

District spokeswoman Veronica Sopher said fewer than 10 students have been dropped from extracurricular activities, which include sports teams and leadership organizations.

 

"No one was kicked out of anything based on anything having to do with sexual assaults," Sopher said. "The only way we as a district would take any action is if the student admitted to underage drinking of alcohol. That can happen at any party."

 

Arlington police are working on possible leads in the vandalism case.

 

Students who didn't want to be identified reported that emotions are running high at the school.

 

Thursday night, text messages and MySpace.com postings urged fellow students to write the word faith on car windows to show support for student-athletes who have been suspended from their teams.

 

According to the students, about a third of the cars on the student lot Friday bore the slogan.

 

Students were still talking about the vandalism Friday night at the Martin-San Houston football game.

 

"Kids are mad ... because their friends can no longer participate in sports and a lot of people are getting into trouble," said Martin sophomore Paige Jackson, 15.

 

Senior Karen McCreight, 16, said she was surprised to hear notice of the $1,000 reward being read over the school's public address system.

 

Teachers were getting tired of hearing about the topic and have asked them to stop talking about it, McCreight said.

 

But not talking about it won't stop partying and sexual assaults, said sophomore Audrey Dark, 15.

 

"A lot of stuff like this is happening," she said. "But it never gets this big. A lot of girls don't want people to get mad at them, and that's why they don't report it or tell their parents."

 

"People are really upset," she said. "They are really angry."

 

Sopher said the district is working with police to set up informational programs for students on alcohol abuse and date irrumpo.

 

Staff writer Eva-Marie Ayala contributed to this report.

 

In the Know

 

Graffiti tip line

 

Anyone with information on the graffiti incident at Martin High School is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 817-469-8477.

[Fortisimo]

Yeah, things are pretty tense over here right now. I've been trying to find out who it was exactly so I can cash in, but the people who did it apparently have a pretty tight knit group.