Lincoln-Sudbury Students Walk Out To Protest Sexual Assault

SUDBURY, MA—Hundreds of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School headed out the door on Monday morning to make a statement about a sexual assault that reportedly occurred years ago, but only came to light recently through a lawsuit that was filed.

The students are critical of the school's handling of the sexual assault and filed out of the building into the athletic fields. They held signs such as "no means no" and gave speeches and held a moment of silence. Read a full report on The Boston Globe.

Last Friday, Superintendent/Principal Bella Wong, one of the defendants named in the suit, addressed the issue in the daily morning message over the PA at the school.

The L-S walk-out stems from former student at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, who last week filed a lawsuit against the school and its officials over the handling of an alleged rape that occurred at the school when she was 15. The Massachusetts woman filed a civil action that she was sexually assaulted by two boys in November of 2013 during a football game at the school. In court documents, the plaintiff, identified as Jane Roe, argues that the district didn't take appropriate action against the attackers, or support her, after the incident. Instead, she was allegedly forced to spend her school days in the common area, and the alleged attackers remained in class and ultimately graduated.

Over the weekend, several in the community and school system banded together to create a petition protesting the matter.

Signed by 477 people as of noon on Monday, a petition says that, "We the undersigned students, parents, and other concerned residents of Lincoln and Sudbury are profoundly concerned by the circumstances described in the complaint filed by 'Jane Roe' in US District Court on April 24, 2018, versus the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional School District, Bella Wong, Aida Ramos, and Leslie Patterson. (Jane Roe Complaint).

The petition demands that the L-S School Committee take immediate and decisive action, listing several specific demands. They include scheduling a public meeting, initiating an independent review, placing the defendants on administrative leave, and suspend the superintendent without pay. The petition also calls for settle the complaint brought by Jane Roe in a fair and compassionate way to "fairly compensate Ms. Roe for the real financial and emotional costs she and her family have incurred as a result of this tragedy, and to avoid imposing further trauma on the victim."

Responding to the walk-out, Superintendent Wong addressed the students, staff and families with an emailed notice.

It reads:

Dear LS Students, Staff and Families, A large part of the student body participated in today’s planned walkout this morning. Students left the school building as a group and gathered on the lacrosse field behind the school. Students were respectful and supportive of one another. The students invited several school staff to join them on the field. Clinical Counselors were among those staff. Remarks were thoughtful and at times, personal. It was understandably emotional for some students and counselors were available to provide immediate and ongoing support. Students were careful to keep the gathering brief so disruption to class time was minimal. While brief, it was an extremely meaningful and productive time of expression and sharing for the students. It was all very well done. On behalf of all of us and myself at L-S, we applaud and appreciate the students for their responsive leadership and courage.

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