A Long Island school district says six students could face disciplinary or legal action after posting Twitter photos in which they wear T-shirts spelling out the word "rape."
Commack schools refused to identify the students, citing district policy. All are said to be seniors at Commack High School, and classmates said they all were in school Friday.
The photos were taken at the high school’s varsity field, moments after seniors had posed for their class photo, according to school officials.
The photos were removed from Twitter before the start of school Friday.
“They feel terrible. They apologized to everyone they hurt,” said friend Ryan Elgar, who said they were “athletes and good students” who made a mistake.
“They weren’t intentionally trying to promote rape," he said. "They just thought it might be funny at the time.”
Few were laughing.
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"I don’t think it’s funny,” said Kelley DiFrancisco, a mother of four high school students.
On Twitter, the reaction was much the same, with tweets ranging from “absolutely disgusted” to “unbelievably embarrassed.” One student tweeted “I don’t even want to enter the doors of Commack High School.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for Commack schools said, “these students showed an inexcusable lack of judgment.”
The high school's principal condemned the photos in a loudspeaker message, according to one student. But senior Ali Salam said some of his classmates believe this is much ado about nothing.
"Half think this shouldn’t be happening," he said. "They should be let go. They’re just kids."
According to Salam, the photos were meant to mimic an image from the popular book “The Fault In Our Stars.”
A counselor from the Islandia rape hotline and rape crisis center known as VIBS said the photos left her with a feeling of despair.
"About half of all rape victims are teen victims," said Clarice Murphy.
Murphy said she called Commack schools Friday, offering enhanced rape education classes for students.
"It is the responsibility of everyone to get out the message that sexual abuse is not acceptable," Murphy said.
Follow Greg Cergol on Twitter @GREGCERGOL4NY
