October 22, 2019 at 04:38AM
SANTA CLARA — Wilcox High School administrators have launched an investigation into allegations that some members of the Chargers' football team chanted homophobic slurs at a male cheerleader.
The father of the cheerleader, who is a 14-year-old freshman, said Monday morning that the boy and a female cheerleader have been threatened physically.
"We are fearful for his safety — now more than ever," the father said.
Despite the alleged threats, the boy attended school Monday, his father added.
This news organization is not identifying the alleged victim and his family because he is a minor.
School officials on Monday asked the Santa Clara Police Department to investigate the matter independently, said Jennifer Dericco, Santa Clara Unified School District spokeswoman.
"At Santa Clara Unified School District, we proactively work to create an environment that embraces diversity and we do not tolerate harassment or bullying of any kind," she said in a statement released to this newspaper.
As of Monday morning, a change.org petition in support of the cheerleader had collected nearly 600 signatures.
"While many people are aware of this incident, there is a slim chance much will be done to change this behavior by tweeting/posting about it," the petition, posted anonymously, stated. "The main purpose of this petition is to call the administration and football coaches to attention, so they can investigate this incident."
School administrators began investigating as soon as the charges were brought to their attention, Dericco said Sunday night.
"We are aware of an allegation about a bullying incident that happened during a school rally on Friday," Dericco said. "Our goal is to make sure that all parties are offered a fair investigation. Depending on the outcome, there could potentially be consequences and we'll follow our board policy for that."
A source close to the football team suggested this could be a case of misinterpretation.
At the rally Friday, which administrators and teachers attended, the crowd and football players chanted, "Hey, Hey, Hey," while waving arms back and forth, the source said, adding that the cheerleader might have interpreted the chants as, "Gay, Gay, Gay."
The father said that's not what his son or his cheerleading teammates heard.
"This is far from a misunderstanding," said the father, who broke down several times during a 30-minute interview.
The father says his son heard far worse, being called a slang word for being gay that is considered a slur. The father also said his son had been subjected to other incidents over the past month.
The boy's parents said they did not want their son to cheer Friday night at the game after the incident at the pep rally, but he went anyway.
"Even after everything that happened, he went back and faced it," the father said. "He's so courageous. He has a responsibility to his team and to the school. He's out there to cheer the football team and this is what they do."
The father said his son faced more verbal insults during halftime at the game. He said the cheerleaders protested the team by refusing to hold up banners the players run through to enter the field.
The boy's older sister, who the father said was captain of the cheerleading squad last school year but has since graduated, took her brother home after the halftime incident.
The father said he and his son met Monday morning with school principal Kristin Gonzalez and a school district representative he did not identify.
Gonzalez declined to comment, referring questions to the school district's spokeswoman.
"He just wanted to do the sports he likes," the father said of his son. "He just doesn't want to be treated differently."
Wilcox has been one of the Bay Area's top football programs in the past two seasons. The Chargers won league, regional and state championships a year ago, going 14-1 during a historic run for the Santa Clara school.
This fall, Wilcox is ranked No. 8 by this news organization and headed toward a second consecutive Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division championship. The Chargers' losses have come against powerhouses Valley Christian and Pittsburg in competitive games.
Friday, Wilcox routed Milpitas 49-21 as Paul M. Rosa — the coach's son — ran for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Rosa is the De Anza Division's reigning most valuable player.
SANTA CLARA — Wilcox High School administrators have launched an investigation into allegations that some members of the Chargers' football team chanted homophobic slurs at a male cheerleader.
The father of the cheerleader, who is a 14-year-old freshman, said Monday morning that the boy and a female cheerleader have been threatened physically.
"We are fearful for his safety — now more than ever," the father said.
Despite the alleged threats, the boy attended school Monday, his father added.
This news organization is not identifying the alleged victim and his family because he is a minor.
School officials on Monday asked the Santa Clara Police Department to investigate the matter independently, said Jennifer Dericco, Santa Clara Unified School District spokeswoman.
"At Santa Clara Unified School District, we proactively work to create an environment that embraces diversity and we do not tolerate harassment or bullying of any kind," she said in a statement released to this newspaper.
As of Monday morning, a change.org petition in support of the cheerleader had collected nearly 600 signatures.
"While many people are aware of this incident, there is a slim chance much will be done to change this behavior by tweeting/posting about it," the petition, posted anonymously, stated. "The main purpose of this petition is to call the administration and football coaches to attention, so they can investigate this incident."
School administrators began investigating as soon as the charges were brought to their attention, Dericco said Sunday night.
"We are aware of an allegation about a bullying incident that happened during a school rally on Friday," Dericco said. "Our goal is to make sure that all parties are offered a fair investigation. Depending on the outcome, there could potentially be consequences and we'll follow our board policy for that."
A source close to the football team suggested this could be a case of misinterpretation.
At the rally Friday, which administrators and teachers attended, the crowd and football players chanted, "Hey, Hey, Hey," while waving arms back and forth, the source said, adding that the cheerleader might have interpreted the chants as, "Gay, Gay, Gay."
The father said that's not what his son or his cheerleading teammates heard.
"This is far from a misunderstanding," said the father, who broke down several times during a 30-minute interview.
The father says his son heard far worse, being called a slang word for being gay that is considered a slur. The father also said his son had been subjected to other incidents over the past month.
The boy's parents said they did not want their son to cheer Friday night at the game after the incident at the pep rally, but he went anyway.
"Even after everything that happened, he went back and faced it," the father said. "He's so courageous. He has a responsibility to his team and to the school. He's out there to cheer the football team and this is what they do."
The father said his son faced more verbal insults during halftime at the game. He said the cheerleaders protested the team by refusing to hold up banners the players run through to enter the field.
The boy's older sister, who the father said was captain of the cheerleading squad last school year but has since graduated, took her brother home after the halftime incident.
The father said he and his son met Monday morning with school principal Kristin Gonzalez and a school district representative he did not identify.
Gonzalez declined to comment, referring questions to the school district's spokeswoman.
"He just wanted to do the sports he likes," the father said of his son. "He just doesn't want to be treated differently."
Wilcox has been one of the Bay Area's top football programs in the past two seasons. The Chargers won league, regional and state championships a year ago, going 14-1 during a historic run for the Santa Clara school.
This fall, Wilcox is ranked No. 8 by this news organization and headed toward a second consecutive Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza Division championship. The Chargers' losses have come against powerhouses Valley Christian and Pittsburg in competitive games.
Friday, Wilcox routed Milpitas 49-21 as Paul M. Rosa — the coach's son — ran for 283 yards and four touchdowns. Rosa is the De Anza Division's reigning most valuable player.