North Andover School Officials Address Locker Room Swastika Incident

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover Public Schools officials sent a letter to NAHS families and staff Wednesday addressing an incident from earlier in the week in which a drawing of a swastika was found in a locker room previously occupied by the NAHS boys hockey team.

According to WHDH TV 7NEWS, the incident occurred in the locker room at the Valley Forum Ice Arena, located at 654 S Union St. #4 in Lawrence, and the swastika appeared to be drawn on a shower wall using a hockey puck.

In the letter from North Andover Superintendent Dr. Gregg Gilligan and NAHS Principal Chet Jackson, the administrators said they received a report about the incident and immediately began an investigation. They said the investigation remains ongoing and involves the administration, the operator of the facility and North Andover student athletes.

Gilligan and Jackson said they also notified police. Though WHDH reported that authorities said they found no crime had been committed.

But the North Andover school officials said in the letter that they take reports of such discrimination very seriously.

"Please know that as a school community, we do not tolerate any acts of discrimination against religion, national origin, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, homelessness or age," Gilligan and Jackson wrote.

Gilligan and Jackson added: "We are committed to maintaining a school environment, including school sponsored events, that are free of discrimination. Words and symbols of intolerance and hate are wrong, unacceptable and should not have a place in our society.

"The hurt that this symbol causes our Jewish community is profound and, in turn, impacts all in our school community."

The administrators said any persons who engage in harassment, discrimination or retaliation may be subject to disciplinary action like reprimand, suspension, termination/expulsion or other sanctions.

"At North Andover High School and across the district, we insist on a culture where all of our students feel welcomed, supported and safe both in and out of school," Gilligan and Jackson wrote.