HINESBURG, Vt. (WCAX) – Student fans were banned from a high school basketball game between Rice and Champlain Valley Union High Schools Tuesday evening due to inappropriate online behavior.
In an email to students and parents, CVU staff said student fans were not allowed at the game due to “escalated, unacceptable speech exchanged online by students connected to both schools.”
The Vermont Principals’ Association says this isn’t the first time students have been barred from a game for online behavior. Officials hope opening up the conversation will help students learn the impact of their words online.
“It was an intervention. I don’t necessarily think it was a punishment because we were intervening in the situation to ensure that we could have safety for our student athletes, and this isn’t the end. This is actually the start of the conversation for both schools,” said the VPA’s Lauren Young.
CVU said they are speaking with students about online behavior and encourage families to talk to their kids one-on-one.
School officials from Rice did not respond to a request for comment
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