IHSA Announcements

March 19, 1997

IHSA Meets with Representatives of Chicago (Brother Rice) and Harvey (Thornton) High Schools

BLOOMINGTON— IHSA By-law 2.041 provides that students, school staff, boards of education, spectators and all other persons connected directly or indirectly with a member school practice and promote the highest principles of sportsmanship and the ethics of competition in all interscholastic relationships.

Last Tuesday, at the semi-final game of the Class AA Boys Basketball Sectional Tournament between Chicago (Brother Rice) and Harvey (Thornton) High Schools, negative cheers were chanted by the Brother Rice cheering section. Subsequently, the administrations of both schools have communicated extensively regarding the nature and context of these cheers. The schools' communication culminated yesterday afternoon when Brother Rice Principal, Brother Dan Casey, and Thornton Principal Bill O'Neal both spoke to the Thornton student body. Brother Casey made a statement of apology to the Thornton students and Mr. O'Neal formally accepted that apology on behalf of Thornton High School and its students.

IHSA has investigated the incidents of negative cheering and the actions taken in response by both Thornton and Brother Rice High Schools. Having met today with representatives of both high schools, and having carefully assessed the actions taken by both schools to bring correction and resolution to this matter, IHSA accepts the resolution reached by the two schools. It is IHSA's decision that no further action is required and it considers the matter closed.