Feb 12, 2009 9:38 pm US/Central
Elmhurst Student Athletes Busted For Partying
43 Suspended From Sports; Mom Facing Charges For Party Held At Her Home
ELMHURST, Ill. (CBS) ―
It happened off campus -– but 43 student athletes at York High School are facing punishment.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports.
The Dec. 31 party and its fallout has caused some controversy in west suburban Elmhurst. Now, those students are paying the price for violating their athletic code, and a York High mother could be facing some jail time.
Elmhurst police say the big New Year's Eve bash was attended by dozens of York students. There was alcohol, and now 43 student athletes will miss part of their sports season for being there.
"Students received consequences for being at the party that included suspension from participation for a portion of their season and 20 hours of community service," York principal Diana Smith said.
Smith says almost all of the suspended students are freshman or sophomores and cooperated with the administration, which found out about the party late last month. Smith says York's policy regarding alcohol and athletics is clearly spelled out in the code of conduct all athletes must sign.
"We recognize these are young people and they make mistakes," Smith said.
But students aren't the only ones in trouble. Sandra McGinn, the woman whose home was party central, has been charged with allowing prohibited possession of alcohol -- a misdemeanor.
One resident claims the windows were covered with paper the night of the party and kids were asked to keep it a secret. Several sources also tell CBS 2 that McGinn was home during the party. CBS 2 could not confirm that, either, and no one answered McGinn's door.
Some Elmhurst parents think the whole situation was handled poorly, especially considering the investigation began four weeks after the blowout.
"I don't think that the school has any right to interfere with what happens outside of school," Elmhurst resident Jennifer Knuth said.
But Paul Mason, whose son is a York athlete, backs the code of conduct and McGinn's arrest.
"Kids don't need to drink, not today," Mason said.
McGinn is out on bond. If convicted, she could spend up to a year in jail.
Most high school athletes are asked to sign codes of conduct -- that's pretty common. York's principal says she has used this difficult situation to discuss the code's effectiveness and intent with both parents and students.
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