AUBURN – Students, school officials and experts will answer questions about racial tensions in Auburn schools during a community event this week.
“We’re really hoping to get more information out to our community about what we do to make our schools safe,” said Andi Locke, safe schools coordinator.
Celebration of Unity will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at Central Maine Community College. Auburn Schools Superintendent Barbara Eretzian will begin by discussing student safety.
Stephen Wessler, director of the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence at the University of Southern Maine, will discuss racial tensions. He also will talk about the Unity Project, a program designed to help schools deal with bullying, teasing and harassment.
Thom Harnett, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights Education and Enforcement, will discuss the Civil Rights Team Project, a statewide initiative to cut down on school violence and harassment. Auburn students have participated in both projects and several will be recognized for their work during the evening.
Auburn students also will perform skits on harassment and bullying. A student panel will take questions from the audience.
Community members can discuss racial tensions and other issues in small groups.
The event is free and open to the public. Participants are asked to register by calling 333-6600, ext. 1308.
Auburn made headlines in February after three black students were accused of beating a white student in the halls of Edward Little High School. Two of the black students were expelled. They said the white student repeatedly harassed them and called them “nigger,” and that school officials did nothing about it.
At the time, other students said racial tensions were rising in the 1,100-student school, which was nearly all white until an influx of Somali immigrants helped change the demographic. Students claimed harassment and racial slurs were prevalent.
School officials said the school’s racism issues weren’t that bad, and they were working to solve the problems that did exist. Wessler, who was already working with the school, scheduled additional student training after the incident.
In March, several students involved in the Unity Project told school committee members that racial tensions were easing and the school climate was improving.
Comments are no longer available on this story