Zero Tolerance for Intoxication: Corona Del Mar Homecoming Pep Rally and Dance Canceled

CORONA DEL MAR, CA — For the students of Corona Del Mar High School who partied at the Battle of the Bay football game at Orange Coast College's Lebard Stadium, a night of celebration for the 41-13 victory turned into a sour hangover Monday morning.

Principal Kathy Scott of CDMHS stuck to her guns in the zero intoxication policy that rocked the students and parents of Corona Del Mar High School on Monday. She canceled the high school's highly anticipated homecoming pep rally and dance scheduled to take place on Oct. 7.

Citing student intoxication at Friday night's game in her Monday morning video message, Scott said that the students' "alleged use of alcohol or controlled substances was extremely inappropriate" and "totally inexcusable."

She apologized to the students who were not involved in the intoxication incident.

"Unfortunately, your poorly behaved peers stole any true victory we all could experience. The behavior of many of our student fans was despicable and deplorable," Scott said in her video announcement, which was seen across campus.

In a follow-up note sent home to the parents of CDM students, Scott went on to say that the faculty of the high school expects students to represent their school with "integrity" at events.

"We are struggling with a disconnect within our parent community where a pervasive culture exists that allows or tolerates their children to bend or break the law and violate district policies," she stated in the letter.

It was not disclosed if the school knows who the intoxicated students from the Battle of the Bay football game were, the number of students involved, or whether the students responsible were facing disciplinary action other than having the dance and rally taken away.

A message was sent to OCC and the Newport Mesa Unified School District for further response, but it was after hours.

The incident was serious enough that OCC declined to let Corona Del Mar High School utilize its sporting facilities for future sporting events, according to the LA Times.

The dance and rally might be off, but the football players will be expected to take the field for a homecoming football game on Oct. 6. That game will take place at Jim Scott Stadium vs. Woodbridge High School of Irvine.

For the students, the cancellation of the homecoming pep rally and dance is one in a string of controversies at the school. An NFL-style prom draft and a cheating scandal in recent years have the faculty of CDMHS under scrutiny.

In a CBSLA report, parent Zoltan Csuka said he feels parents should stay involved.

"They should stay on top of their kids and make sure what they are doing and help them stay out of trouble," he said.

Support and questions are peppering social media sites, but at CDMHS, Scott's word is law until further notice. Future needs for police presence, security searches and Breathalyzers were also mentioned in her message.

"As your principal, if school events now require this much monitoring, it beckons me to question, should we even have these kinds of events?" she said. "Clearly, the administration, teachers, and the coaches have a much higher expectation for our school and students than some of you students have for yourselves."

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