On Thursday September 6, 2018, the Seniors of Dakota High School took their official class photo out by the flagpole, but things didn’t turn out so well. The first take of the class of 2019 was supposedly ruined as a senior wearing glasses and a Nike shirt held up an “obscure” hand sign as the photo was being taken. The second offense was by two other senior boys as they held up a peace sign and the OK sign. The administration was relentless as they only found the second offenders, John Paul Riley and Charles Provenzano. Both boys were taken out of the photo. “There was a collective gasp from the seniors as John Paul and Charles walked away from the group,” Abby Seader said about the boys being taken out, “everyone was shocked because they are both good guys and don’t cause problems.”
On Instagram, the hashtags #FREECHARLES, #ANDJOHNPAUL, and #FREECHUCKANDJP are trending. Here’s what Charles had to say, “I put up a peace sign. I did this because Mr. Sibley said in the auditorium that peace signs were okay. John and I were in the dead middle of the entire crowd and never heard them say that (no hands were allowed). I didn’t mean any disrespect, I just didn’t hear anything.”
Many students think that John Paul and Charles did the signs on purpose. “Typically, people always believe in rumors. I don’t know why people would think that because I was standing next to Charles and he’s one of the nicest guys you will ever meet,” John Paul says about the rumors.
When asked if the boys did it on purpose or if it was all a miscommunication, Mr. Downham (The assistant principal to Sibley) evaded the question by saying that, “at the senior class meeting, Mr. Sibley said to all the students that the first photo would be serious while the second one would have the hands up.” When asking the same question for a second time he said, “I don’t think it was a miscommunication. Well, maybe it was at the time.”
Who do you believe, the staff or the students?