Schools officials at an Ahwatukee high school said they will take steps to combat racism as community outrage persists over a photo that surfaced last week of seniors using a racial slur.
On Monday, administrators at Desert Vista High School reiterated their shock and sadness about the photo showing six female students with lettered T-shirts spelling out the "N-word." The photo quickly went viral online Friday morning with many calling for the students to be expelled.
"We will not tolerate anyone promoting any type of hate or using any type of racial slur," said Dr. Kenneth Baca, Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) superintendent. "We are outraged. We are saddened. But most importantly we want to ensure this never happens again."
Baca would not provide details on the punishments handed out to the students involved in the photo, but he did dispel a rumor that the students had been given a five-day suspension.
In response to Friday's incident, the school set aside time for students to reflect on racial issues and provide feedback. The district also has a campaign, which was already scheduled, to educate students about "sensitivity" at all its schools.
TUHSD Assistant Superintendent Anna Battle said the photo was intended for a boyfriend of one of the students and not to be hurtful or offensive, but that does not excuse their actions.
"Did it still result in the same consequence? Unforunately, yes," said Battle.
Battle explained that the students were wearing the T-shirts as part of a senior class photo day, when students spell out various pre-approved phrases.
Students leaders also expressed their sadness and said they are starting a campaign to end the use of the "N-word."
Alyssa Stiggers is president of the black student union at Desert Vista and said our culture has become desensitized to the offensive word.
"Somebody has got to say it's not OK," said Stiggers. "The administration will help me be that person, and they will go along with it, too."
Later that afternoon, community activists, parents, students and others gathered outside the school to call for more to be done about racism at the Ahwatukee high school, which is majority white. One of the students in the photo, Rachel Steigerwald, offered an apology.
"I know people have been offended by what I did, and I have come to say I'm incredibly, incredibly sorry," said Steigerwald, while standing among those at the rally.
Tony Davis is a senior at Desert Vista and said another one of the students in the photo has apologized to her for using the word.
"Honestly, I don't really think it was meant to be hurtful, but it was a joke that wasn't funny at all," said Davis.
Some people of color in the community said they were not surprised this would happen at the school.
Rainy Alben has a daughter who is a sophomore at Desert Vista. She described the incident at the school as reflective of a "closed-off community."
"My personal feeling is that it’s ignorance, stupidity and lack of knowledge, of education and, more importantly, of exposure to other cultures,” said Alben.
In 2014, a teacher at Desert Vista filed a lawsuit against the district, alleging she experienced racism and that the administration did not respond appropriately.
"I told the current administration and the former administration that there were some severe racial problems on that campus,' said Dr. Cicely Cobb, who taught at the school from 2012 to 2014.
During her tenure, Cobb said she heard from minority students about mistreatment and had some students behave inappropriately toward her, as well.
"I don't know how (the administration) were shocked (by the photo) when they were fully cognizant of the things I reported to them," said Cobbs, who could not comment further on her lawsuit because it is still pending.
But Dr. Anna Battle with TUHSD said the school does not have a particular issue with racism.
“We are dealing with the same types of student issues, adolescent issues, that any other school is dealing with in the United States,” said Battle.
