Cheater sues when school bans her from graduation ceremony

[Darth Wong]

Seriously.
http://www.wlky.com/education/19668576/detail.html

Admitted Cheater Sues To Attend Graduation
Judge Denies Motion
By Erin Haynes/WLKY
POSTED: 12:18 pm EDT June 5, 2009

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. -- A Superior Court Judge has denied a Jeffersonville High School student's petition for injunction.

With graduation less than 24 hours away, Kristen Reno sued the Greater Clark County School Board, asking Judge Jerry Jacobi to grant an injunction that would have allowed her to walk in the school's graduation ceremony Saturday morning.

Reno, 18, was caught cheating. She admits the cheating was wrong but said denying her the right to walk with her class in the graduation ceremony is taking the discipline for her action too far.

Her attorney filed an emergency injunction petition in Clark Superior Court Thursday.

Reno admitted she was one of several students who had another student change their grades in the school's computer system.

Reno's credit for that course was taken away, and she was given the opportunity to retake the exam, but she chose not to do so.

She said she has still earned enough credits to graduate and should be given the right to do so.

"Without that credit, I would still be able to graduate, but with that credit, I would have a higher diploma. I'd rather have a lower diploma and get to graduate than have that credit," Reno said.

Calling the graduation ceremony a privilege, not a right, the attorney for the school board said the school handed down the least restrictive discipline possible and allowed Reno to participate in other senior activities, including the baccalaureate ceremony and senior picnic.

The student who changed the grades in the computer was expelled from the high school.

I know some kids have an overblown sense of entitlement, but this is taking it to the next level. Where the fuck does she get off thinking that she has a "right" to attend a fancy graduation ceremony and pretend to be a respectable student when she got caught cheating? Frankly, she got off easy. Hacking into the school computer and changing her grades is not just cheating, it's incredibly flagrant cheating and an accessory to breaking and entering. She should have her diploma revoked, she should fail the school year, and she should be forced to repeat.

The really sad thing is that some of the comments at the linked site are actually sympathetic to her.

[Themightytom]

this was my favorite comment:

Here is a number for Kristen Reno to call to get justice: 1-800-Boo-Hooo Ext. WAAAA DON"T DO THE CRIME, IF YOU CAN"T DO THE TIME

InappropriateJun. 7, 2009 2:17am EDT | from markdrennen

[The Yosemite Bear]

I only feel sorry for our Valevitorian, whose grades were hacked by an outsider, and suddenly changed to a negative sum. (Despite being a Teen mother she was still getting As and doing volunteer work.) Of course her grades were restored, and while no one knows who did the actual hacking, there were quite a few people in my high school that could have. (Fundy TAs with god level computer clearance, The Grandaughter of one of The Atomic Bomb Scientists, an obsolete school computer network with more holes then swiss cheese, (and they wondered why the nerds could still play Nethack despite them allegedly wiping it several times from the network))

[Rochey]

Good to hear the judge threw the case out. Hell, she's lucky that's all that happened to her. If she'd tried that over here in our equivelant of that exam, she'd have been in a hell of a lot more trouble than just not getting one exam marked. If I recall corretly, the subject you cheated in and any subject you did prior to that are not marked, and you get 0 on them all.

On another note, why did one of the students have access to the system? Over here it's government run.

[Havok]

She is lucky she didn't get expelled. And what the fuck is with her parents? Oh my daughter cheated, but she should still get privileges... LETS SUE! Give me a fucking break. I really can't stand the sense of entitlement, not just kids have, but the population in general. It makes me fucking sick.

[Darth Wong]

Well, you can see where Little Miss Brat got it from, if her parents totally back her up like this. I'm tempted to say something starting with "if I were her father", but that's a moot point because I would never raise such a spoiled brat.

[Lusankya]

I'm amazed that the school actually gave her the option to resit the exam. And it sounds as though they're letting her graduate, and are just not letting her go to the ceremony. She's damn lucky.

Who the hell even wants to go to their graduation ceremony anyway? It's boring sitting around while they call people's names, and then more boring speeches. Is it an American thing to actually care about something like that? I remember telling my school principal that I couldn't go to the school speech night (closest analogy in Australia, I'd guess, since you don't graduate until your state exams get marked), and she was downright jealous of me, because even she was only going because she had to.

[Teebs]

I think the for the British equivalent to high school leaving exams if you were caught cheating so blatantly (not that the school would be grading your exams) you'd be failed on every exam in that sitting and might be banned from retaking any for a certain period of time. Massive over-entitlement springs up here and there, I'm more shocked by the sheer leniency of the school's punishment.

[phongn]

An Indiana judge has upheld a principal's decision to bar a Jeffersonville High School senior from today's graduation ceremony because she let a fellow student change her grade to passing in a geometry class.

Kristin Reno, 18, acknowledged during a Clark County Superior Court hearing yesterday that she made a mistake. But she had enough credits to graduate without the class, she said, so she should be allowed to take part in the commencement.

"I want to graduate with my friends," Reno said.

But Larry Wilder, lawyer for the Greater Clark County school board, argued that principal Steve Morris acted within his authority to ban students from graduation ceremonies for cheating.

"It's the right of the school corporation to discipline students," Wilder said, adding that Morris could have expelled Reno. Instead, she will receive a general high school diploma.

The class she was taking in which her grade was changed would have qualified her for a higher-level diploma.

Judge Jerry Jacobi said the legal issue was whether a graduation ceremony is an extracurricular privilege, like participating in sports, or a fundamental part of a student's education. And, he said, he had to consider how much a principal needs the authority to ban students from graduation to maintain discipline at the end of their senior year.

Reno and her lawyer, Jeff Branstetter, had asked Jacobi for an emergency injunction to require Greater Clark school officials to let Reno participate.

Morris testified that he banned Reno after school officials learned that she was one of four or five students whose grades were changed by another student who had obtained a teacher's password, allowing access to a computer system containing students' grades.

After an investigation into the cheating, Morris said that he consulted a group of school administrators and a lawyer and determined that school-system policy established a range of penalties that included expulsion, suspension and loss of privileges.

"I felt it was the least restrictive" punishment, Morris said of his decision about the commencement ban, which also applied to the other students whose grades were changed. The student who changed the grades was expelled.

Branstetter argued that Reno's right to an education includes completing the experience by participating in graduation. That right can't be revoked without due process, including an administrative hearing, he said.

Wilder disagreed.

"There is no due-process right to being able to walk across the stage" in a graduation ceremony, he said, adding that Reno has the right only to receive a diploma for completing her education.

Reno said after yesterday's hearing that she plans to attend Indiana University Southeast next year and become an education counselor to make sure that what happened to her doesn't happen to other students.

[Mayabird]

So they only expelled the student who changed the grades but not all the cheating kids? Well, on the bright side of justice, should any of these brats show up at college with this notoriety they're picked up, they'll be watched like a hungry hawk watches a rodent. And that is why tenure was invented. Bwahaha.

Reno said after yesterday's hearing that she plans to attend Indiana University Southeast next year and become an education counselor to make sure that what happened to her doesn't happen to other students.

Somehow I doubt this means she's learned her lesson. Come on, Indiana University, you know you want to kick her out on her ass while laughing maniacally.

[aerius]

Reno said after yesterday's hearing that she plans to attend Indiana University Southeast next year and become an education counselor to make sure that what happened to her doesn't happen to other students.

Someone needs to inform the university about the cheating bitch so she never gets admitted.

[Rogue 9]

Reno said after yesterday's hearing that she plans to attend Indiana University Southeast next year and become an education counselor to make sure that what happened to her doesn't happen to other students.

Someone needs to inform the university about the cheating bitch so she never gets admitted.

I know the registrar from way back; I think I'll do that.

[phongn]

Oh, I bet her university will find out when she's failed geometry and a note is placed in her final transcripts.

[Oskuro]

This brat growing up a little and realizing the graduation thing is worthless in 5... 4... 3...

[Shroom Man 777]

Instead of going to my highschool graduation, I went with my dad and uncle to Japan and instead of sweltering in the shitty Philippine humidity I went to a ski resort and saw actual snow. Cherry blossoms, spider crabs and bullet trains!

Haha, fuck you.

[Mayabird]

Who the hell even wants to go to their graduation ceremony anyway? It's boring sitting around while they call people's names, and then more boring speeches. Is it an American thing to actually care about something like that? I remember telling my school principal that I couldn't go to the school speech night (closest analogy in Australia, I'd guess, since you don't graduate until your state exams get marked), and she was downright jealous of me, because even she was only going because she had to.

Shoot, forgot to comment about this.

Yes, it's an American thing. One of those many, many, many stupid American things. High school graduation is supposed to be the culmination of the BEST YEARS OF YOUR LIFE (TM) and thus the MOST IMPORTANT MOMENT OF YOUR LIFE (TM) (except maybe prom or losing your virginity in the back of someone's pickup or something...or both, ugh; still, I knew a number of people who dropped out after senior prom, even though if they just showed up for one more month they'd get the piece of paper, and I'm very sure they hadn't been virgins since middle school anyway).

Another little story out of me. My brother had skipped the last two years of high school and gone to a junior college for a joint enrollment program instead. He went to his college graduation to get his associates degree and then decided not to bother with the high school one a week later, because who the hell cares about a stupid diploma when he already has a college degree? The high school staff could not comprehend why he didn't want to go and kept bugging him even after the ceremony was done with him at home having a relaxing evening playing video games. ("Fine, if you don't want to mail it, don't bother, because I already have a college degree and I don't need or want it. Why is this so hard for you to understand? I wasn't even a student at the high school the last two years.") So yeah, stupid American thing.

[TC Pilot]

Odd. Two students at my old high school got barred from attending graduation this year and 75$ fine for streaking, and this cheating bitch gets off lighter than they did?

[Master of Cards]

Odd. Two students at my old high school got barred from attending graduation this year and 75$ fine for streaking, and this cheating bitch gets off lighter than they did?

This year someone got banned for not showing up at the practice. But the kid who smoked pot and came in still walked .

[Axis Kast]

Somehow I doubt this means she's learned her lesson. Come on, Indiana University, you know you want to kick her out on her ass while laughing maniacally.

You sure are a winner. Show 'em how tough you are!

Jesus Christ. This is a person's life. There's no excuse for cheating, but wishing ill of folks who have slipped and fallen doesn't do anything to burnish your own accomplishments - or your humanity.

Cheating, dishonesty, and favoritism run rampant in American schools, from junior high on up through the collegiate level. Punish, but with mercy, in the knowledge that those who pay the highest price are often the least able to recover.

[aerius]

Cheating, dishonesty, and favoritism run rampant in American schools, from junior high on up through the collegiate level. Punish, but with mercy, in the knowledge that those who pay the highest price are often the least able to recover.

You mean give them a slap on the wrist and hope they don't do it again? Gimme a break. She's 18, she's a fucking adult, it's time for her to accept the full responsibility & consequences for her dumbass actions. Giving her worthless token "punishments" is almost certainly how she became such a spoiled brat in the first place, more of the same isn't going to magically fix her attitude problem any more than a bottle of vodka is going to sober up a drunken alcoholic.

[neoolong]

It's ridiculous. This wasn't some ultra-intense and stressful situation for her, leading her to make a bad decision. She cheated on a course that she didn't even need to graduate, and showed a complete disregard for the rules.

A harsher penalty should have been imposed.

[Themightytom]

So waht the hell is she going to be an education cousnelor for again? its not really clear she ahs elarned anything from this experience as she tried to fight the consequences. How is she going to be a role model for others if her integrity is crap.

[Tanasinn]

I could swear this has happened before.

For what it's worth, I would have been thrilled not to have had to attend the moronic graduation ceremony and its attendant practice. I could have spent the early morning hours sleeping instead of sitting for two hours listening to meaningless platitudes and names and dealing with choking crowds all to get a piece of paper that told me that no, I was not a vegetable.

I had a few friends who thought similar, as well.

[neoolong]

I didn't want to go to my graduation. But, it's for my parents more than for me. They want to see me walk, so I go up and do it. That's all.

[erik_t]

Cheating, dishonesty, and favoritism run rampant in American schools, from junior high on up through the collegiate level. Punish, but with mercy, in the knowledge that those who pay the highest price are often the least able to recover.

You mean give them a slap on the wrist and hope they don't do it again? Gimme a break. She's 18, she's a fucking adult, it's time for her to accept the full responsibility & consequences for her dumbass actions. Giving her worthless token "punishments" is almost certainly how she became such a spoiled brat in the first place, more of the same isn't going to magically fix her attitude problem any more than a bottle of vodka is going to sober up a drunken alcoholic.

Too true. The obvious solution is to keep her from ever going to even such a prestigious institution as a satellite campus of Indiana University. Ideally, she will be confined to chickenshit semi-skilled jobs like burger-flipper or TSA-screener for the rest of her life.

I hate it when I agree with Axis. I wouldn't mind seeing her need to repeat that whole last year of high school, but life-long consequences seem a bit harsh to me.