Probe of racist graffiti continues
By Valentina Zic/ Staff Writer
Thursday, January 6, 2005

A handwriting expert helping educators and police look into two incidents of racist graffiti found at the high school has written up a preliminary report of her study, but officials are not yet ready to discuss the results.

     "The investigation is still going on. We have received some preliminary findings, but I really can't divulge that at this particular time," said Lt. Tom Lambert, the police representative in charge of the probe.

     The graffiti was found in the girls bathroom at Needham High in October and November, and Principal Paul Richards said last month that the perpetrators could face school consequences, including expulsion, as well as criminal charges.

     Officials are now in the process of poring over the handwriting report, deciding what action, if any, to take, and determining whether they are comfortable enough yet to make an accusation.

     "I just don't know whether we're going to be able to move forward," Richards said.

     Until officials make an accusation, however, the investigation will remain open, he added.

     But Richards said, "We found the work by the expert to be very helpful."

     The high school, Richards said, has not had any similar incidents since last fall, and he believes the hiring of the handwriting expert might have helped.

     "That might have been part of it," he said. "The students know we're taking this very seriously."

     Fighting racism has been a central concern of both the high school and the middle school this year. Richards has provided anti-racist training to both students and staff at the high school and has formed a Civil Rights Committee to study civil rights violations at the school and recommend further action.

     In addition, Ku Klux Klan fliers found at the high school caused concern at that school as well as at Pollard Middle School, where students formed their own Civil Rights Committee and held anti-racist rallies last month.

     The handwriting investigation represents the most serious attempt by the schools this year to follow through on particular civil rights violations, but officials are reluctant to discuss the details.

     "This is a very sensitive issue for a lot of people," Lambert said.