All agree the game was marred by streakers, that eggs were lobbed into the Sequoia section of the stands and rocks later thrown at the team bus as Sequoia students left the Nov. 2 game. Allegations that someone leveled a racial epithet at least one Sequoia player remain under investigation.
"We're taking the allegations very seriously," said Half Moon Bay Principal Susan Million. "We do not condone any of the behaviors that occurred Friday night and we are investigating the other allegations."
 Terra Nova High School Principal Thomas Minshew, left, stands with Pacifica police officers Friday night during the school's football game with Half Moon Bay High School. Administrators from both schools were on hand to make sure there was no repeat of the bad behavior that marred the Nov. 2 game between Half Moon Bay and Sequoia high schools. |
Sequoia Assistant Principal Bonnie Hansen told Million of racial insults from at least one Half Moon Bay player on the field and food thrown at Sequoia supporters on their way to the concession stand, according to a letter of apology Million sent to Sequoia Principal Morgan Marchbanks. Separate letters of apology came from the Cabrillo Unified School District board of directors and the Half Moon Bay High Associated Student Council.
Tuesday - more than a week after the game - officials from Half Moon Bay and Sequoia were still reviewing tapes of the game for evidence of racial remarks. They are now focusing on a specific incident, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Cabrillo Unified School District.
"Sequoia has identified an incident during the football game that Half Moon Bay is still investigating," the release reads in part. "But if there is substantial evidence, due to student confidentiality, the discipline will be confidential."
The release also states that the high school community will undergo a training program to address racial issues in the wake of the game, though no officials present heard racial remarks. The release also notes that Sequoia received penalties for four personal fouls during the game with no evidence of retaliation from Half Moon Bay players on the field.
Supervision at the concession stand and in the visitors' seating will be reorganized in the wake of the incidents, according to Million's letter. She also wrote that start times for the evening games will be reviewed as well.
Sequoia officials have pointed to other instances of racially charged or profane remarks involving Half Moon Bay teams. Football and basketball coach Fine Lauese said he did not hear anything himself at the game but that his players told him they had been insulted, and players in both sports have reported such remarks in the past. A recent water polo game between the schools drew allegations of homophobic remarks that were the subject of a lengthy letter from a Sequoia teacher to league officials and Cabrillo staff. Half Moon Bay fans counter that Sequoia football players tried to intimidate the Cougars' water polo team during a game earlier this year and that they have been subjected to slurs themselves in the past.
News coverage of the incidents has been widespread and there has been local backlash against Sequoia officials from some in the Half Moon Bay community.
"I'm taking a lot of the brunt for talking to the press," said Marchbanks, who has been outspoken about remarks directed at her son at the game. "It's a little bit surprising. There are a lot of blogs out there and I've received e-mails from students and parents in Half Moon Bay saying that Sequoia should be the ones to apologize.
"I'm hearing a lot of support from the Sequoia community and a lot of negativity from the Half Moon Bay community," she said.
Marchbanks said it's time for Sequoia officials and parents to stop talking about the incidents and let the Half Moon Bay community sort out their response.
"Sequoia staff never went to the press," said Marchbanks. "It was the parents who got egged who did, and that's what set it in motion." Marchbanks said she spoke to area reporters when they called her and answered questions based on reports from adults at the game.
"I've not in any way been seeking to defame or harm Half Moon Bay and these are not rumors from kids who say they heard something," said Marchbanks. "Everything that has been reported to me has been confirmed by adults on my staff who I trust."
Marchbanks said she was heartened and encouraged by apologies she had received so far, but that she still needed to know that future trips to the school would be different.
"What happened was so generalized - there's just four or five different levels of behavior." Marchbanks said, adding that streaking at the game was more confrontational than had been portrayed and that one of the parents who was egged had a large welt as a result.
"Streaking is much too gentle a term," said Marchbanks of the masked and naked interlopers, some of whom reportedly lingered to dance around and even came into contact with Sequoia players. "One kid was pushed hard enough to knock him off balance and that's an (education code) violation.
"What I'm hoping for is something that says to me that we are safe when we go back to Half Moon Bay - and I'm confident that Half Moon Bay is planning that."
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The following is the complete text of a letter written Nov. 9 from Half Moon Bay High School Associated Student Council members to Sequoia High School Principal Morgan Marchbanks.
Dear Ms. Marchbanks,
On behalf of the Half Moon Bay High School student body, we would like to formally apologize for the embarrassing and unjustifiable incidents that occurred at the Friday night football game. Please understand that we are just as shocked to hear that any individual at our high school would behave in such a manner as to insult and disrespect another high school and community because it is so out of character from the majority of our high school's population. Racism and homophobia are by no means promoted at our high school. In fact, our Gay Straight Alliance is the most widely attended and promoted club at our school.
We want to clarify that the few individuals who acted so disrespectfully on Friday night are in no way a direct representation of our school or our community. Many of us were incredibly disturbed to read such a hurtful and fallacious article concerning our school. Though we agree that we are at fault for the unfortunate events that took place, we do not feel that the rest of the student body and the school as a whole should be labeled in such a demeaning way. It was a mere handful of students who acted out of order, not the whole student body, and we are sad to say that these students gave such a false representation of Half Moon Bay High School. We take these events very seriously here, and we are continuing the investigation of the incidents as we inform the student body that such behavior will not be tolerated. The town of Half Moon Bay, including students, administration, faculty, parents, and even the youth has been given a poor reputation as a result of the incidents.
We would like to make an effort to establish peace and tranquility between our schools. Hopefully this letter will reflect our effort, not only to apologize to Sequoia High School, but to better Half Moon Bay's reputation as a school system and a community.
Sincerely yours,
Gabi Jensen (ASC president), Camille del Fierro (ASC vice president),
and Erinn McHale (ASC secretary)
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The following is the complete text of a letter sent from Half Moon Bay High Principal Susan Million to Sequoia Principal Morgan Marchbanks on Nov. 7:
Dear Ms. Marchbanks,
This letter of apology is directed to the students, staff, football program, and fans at Sequoia High School. I am truly embarrassed by the behavior that was exhibited at the Friday, Nov. 2, football game. As a school and a community, we do not condone these types of behaviors at Half Moon Bay High School.
At the end of the football game, I briefly spoke to a Sequoia High School assistant principal who informed me of the following additional incidences that occurred during the game besides the streaking, egg throwing, and rock throwing:
• Racial epithets on the field during the game.
• Food being thrown at the fans as they walked to the booster snack shack.
Currently, we are reviewing the game tapes and working with the Sequoia coach to identify when the racial epithets occurred. This is a very serious matter and behavior that is not condoned at Half Moon Bay High School. Any misbehavior will be addressed by the coaching staff and administration.
I would like to indicate the steps that I have taken to eliminate this type of situation in the future, which include:
• Implementing an educational program for our student and parents.
• Coordinating with the Associated Student Body and parent groups to reorganize the supervision, snack shack, and seating to ensure that all fans are safe at the game.
• Reviewing the start times of our football games.
I sincerely apologize for any unacceptable comments or behavior made by our students or athletes. I assure you that we will take all appropriate measures to make sure this type of behavior will not happen again.
Sincerely,
Susan Million
Principal
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Is there a problem with violence and racism at Half Moon Bay sporting events?
"Our experience playing against Half Moon Bay was nothing but positive. Both the coaches and the players displayed good sportsmanship."
-Brad Zucker, Hillsdale High School football coach and athletic director
"I started at the high school in 1980. I probably was not the right person to be in charge of this - because I was in shock. What's built into me is that this is one of the safest high schools with the nicest kids. ... When the parents don't feel safe - that's the bottom line."
- Allan Kass, Cabrillo Unified School District interim superintendent
"We don't whitewash our responsibility, but we also have a lot more to be proud of than we do to be sad about."
- Charlie Gardner, Cabrillo governing board president
"The student body is shocked and appalled that this happened in our high school. We sincerely apologize to Sequoia High School. We also do not condone any racist or homophobic remarks. We're ashamed of ourselves - and we're ashamed of the way the press reported this."
- Michael Wright, Half Moon Bay High student representative to the Cabrillo board
"I've been involved in high school sports for 18 years. To me this is all overblown, what happened on the field. There's a lot of gutter talk that goes on between teams. It should have been handled on the field."
- Michael Donegan, Coastside resident and the only member of the public to address the issue at a recent school board meeting
"The majority of our students are very respectful, very nice students. That it falls on them is a shame. It is only a small group, and it will not be condoned. I think the campus will be a better place by the time we're done."
- Jolanda Schreurs, Cabrillo board member
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