Petition Seeks to Overturn Expulsion of 5 Marist Students

CHICAGO, IL — Nearly 5,000 people have signed an online petition urging Marist High School to reverse its decision to expel five female students allegedly involved in the sharing of a text message that included a racial slur.

A petitionbuzz.com request for “Student Expulsion Repeal” had 4,592 signatures as of 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, with a goal of just netting 3,000.

Marist did not confirm the students involved in the controversy were expelled because it is a personnel matter, but the petition indicates expulsion was the punishment handed down.

Related: Marist to Take Disciplinary Action Over Racially Charged Text Message

“Five girl's (sic) lives have been damaged due to the final decision Marist High school has put forth,” according to the petition’s text. “ The administration at Marist acted on the situation quickly and wrongly not even knowing the poor image it had just created for itself. These highly intelligent young women made a horrible mistake that they wish they had never made. However, Marist High School is a private, catholic institution whose ongoing slogan is 'Brothers and Sisters for life.' Being a catholic school, we are often taught to forgive those who sin.”

The petition also claims Marist’s reputation has taken a hit as the result of the expulsions.

“Parents throughout the Marist community have spent thousands of dollars because they believe in ‘The Marist Way’ and it's (sic) reputation. That reputation is now gone in the eyes of many. Please take into account these five girls and their families.”

A spokeswoman at Marist said disciplinary decisions are “complex,” include “many factors” and receive “diligent evaluation and discernment.”

Despite the apparent expulsions, a Black Lives Matter group is still planning to protest at the school on Friday.

Patch file photo