Can cheering at this South Carolina high school graduation really cost you $1,030? It depends on whom you ask.
Yes, warns Greenville High School.
Maybe, suggests the Greenville County school district.
No, it can’t, says the Greenville Police Department.
So, what’s the truth?
In a recent assembly, an administrator at Greenville High warned students that family members could be fined $1,030 for yelling at seniors’ upcoming graduation at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
A slide shown at that assembly stated, “Since graduation is a dignified and solemn occasion, graduating seniors and their guests should behave appropriately. Please ask your guests not to call out, cheer, whistle, or applaud during the reading of names and presentation of diplomas.
“The Citation for Family Members yelling out is $1,030.”
District officials have said, however, that school administrators will not actually cite family members of graduates for cheering.
“It is not the district’s nor Greenville High School’s policy to cite parents,” said Greenville County Schools spokeswoman Beth Brotherton. “This (Greenville High) slide was created to inform students that because graduation is a ‘publicly sanctioned event’ and is held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, it is under the jurisdiction of the Greenville Police Department.
“Greenville Police have the authority to cite and/or fine people in the audience who create a disturbance or disruption.”
Sgt. Johnathan Bragg, spokesman for the Greenville Police Department, said police have not and will not ticket family members merely for cheering, whistling or applauding during the reading of names.
“Screaming somebody’s name or congratulating them, that’s not a police matter,” Bragg said. “We would only get involved when it’s actually a criminal matter. As far as charging someone for yelling, we have not done that.”
An audience member who is continually disruptive could be asked to leave, but that would be the duty of arena staff, Bragg said.
“We’ve made it very clear that we don’t remove people,” Bragg said. “It’s not our property. It’s the arena’s property.”
However, Greenville Police could become involved if a person refuses to leave after being asked to leave by arena staff, Bragg said. In addition, particularly rowdy misbehavior could be seen as “disorderly conduct,” prompting a police response.
“If someone starts yelling obscenities, that’s a different story,” Bragg said. “That would get into the ‘disorderly’ realm.”
School officials have urged graduating seniors and their families to make commencements dignified occasions, and excessive cheering can cause delays in the ceremonies.
“It is safe to say that all seniors are given a set of expectations for behavior at graduation for both themselves and their guests,” Brotherton said.
Greenville High School principal Jason Warren didn’t return a message for comment.
Follow Paul Hyde on Twitter @PaulHyde7.
Fckin commies
Screw you and your BS sign
Who ever came up with this should be fined $1,030 for each Senior Graduating that day
And enforced by the parents of those that graduated
Should be an alarmingly large bill for the punk ass that thought they could squash this celebration
And for those that complied … Fkin Pussies
When jackasses think they rule us and our behavior, is when they should get overrun with non compliance
I’d love one of them tickets as a souvenir of my kid’s graduation.
Pay the fine? No. You’re out of your mind.
….and no property shall be seized without due process….
This is beyond sick, more like inconceivably insane.
If I could go just to test this bullshit I would .. and to see how many sheeple are in the crowd
I would be telling someone to thier face that they could kiss my grits….
run who every came up with this out of town