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Cheerleaders Booted Off Team for Nude Pix, Parents Sue
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by NowPublic Staff | December 5, 2008 at 12:49 pm
29518 views | 3 Recommendations | 8 comments
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In September, the two teens were suspended from the Bothell High cheerleading squad after school administrators found out about the photos through an unnamed source. The two lawsuits put forth by the cheerleader's families claim that the girls' right to due process were violated since their nude pix were unnecessarily shared with other staff members.
Attorney Matthew King, who represents both families, said it also was troubling that the teens were punished, but football players and other students at the school who sent or received the texts were not.
"We're not technically challenging the sanctions as being too strict, we're saying they weren't evenly enforced across the school," King said. "There should have been some punishment meted out to those who were in possession of the photos. ... It seems like the girls are getting the brunt of it."
According to the lawsuits, one of the cheerleaders nude picture was taken three years ago and sent to her then-boyfriend via text message. The other cheerleader's pic was snapped in June. In both cases, the photos were accidentally sent to other Bothell High students.
Sending nude photos via text is apparently so common that it has it own term: Sexting, a portmanteau of "sex" and "texting".
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (8)
at 14:05 on December 6th, 2008
What is wrong with a girl sending her boyfriend a picture of her nude self? When are we going to stop denying that teenagers are sexual? When are we going to stop saying that sex and sexuality is bad and to be punished? We want teenagers who are confident and ready for adulthood- then stop giving mixed messages.
at 14:39 on December 6th, 2008
Do some math. She was booted from a high school team for a photo she sent 3 years ago. That would
make here 14-15 at the time. If you think it's normal for a 14 year old girl to send nude photos of
herself via cellphone, you're clueless.
at 17:10 on December 6th, 2008
Joe, its you who is clueless, sexual curiosity begins at puberty. To be sending naked photo's of themselves you can safely asume the boyfriends had probably seen most, if not all of what they were sent already. I can tell you now, I was saw a great deal of my girlfriends body at the age of 15. Perfectly natural, perfectly healthy.
I'm also perplexed why this became a school issue. Why is it a school matter?
If anything, the guy is to blame as he obviously forwarded the pictures to his friends after they broke up.
Sometimes America seems so backward.
at 22:12 on December 6th, 2008
It shouldn't matter who the picture is of. It's the 'distribution' of pornography that should be punished just like if you got caught looking at or forwarding a titty picture/email at work and lost your job. Everyone should be punished equally or nobody at all.
at 11:02 on December 8th, 2008
These girls should not only have been suspended from the squad, but charges should have been filed against them and their parents for child pornography.
C'mon people, where do you draw the line??? Or do you want to erease the line altogether???
Legalizing immorality does NOT make it moral!
at 13:02 on January 13th, 2009
Why is it illegal or a school matter?? When are we going to stop denying that teenagers are sexual? It is a school matter because it involves MINORS send pictures that are in a pornographic nature to other people-- their boyfriends who could of been at the time over 16- even 17- and that makes them accountable for their actions. Should they have been kicked off the squad no-- suspended a day or two but the football players also should have as well. Or is that the message the football teams are saying to their communities-- its ok to look at young minors nude and to pass pornographic pictures around- thats child pornography and the making of a sexual offender. And who said the statement lets denying teenagers are or are not having sex? Thats not it-- its a legal matter and if they had taped the girls having sex depending on the person it could have been more of a legal matter. WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!
at 12:23 on April 20th, 2009
who cares they are young they don't know it could be their boyfriend
at 12:24 on April 20th, 2009
ok it is very rude for it but very fun