LTHS Attack: News Outlet Gets Things Wrong

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – West Cook News, a conservative website, has had plenty to say about the attack that occurred last month in a Lyons Township High School hallway.

But some of its stories are making unsupported assertions.

Three days after the April 27 attack, West Cook News headlined its story: "Source: LTHS sophomore expelled after brutal attack on fellow student."

The story, which remains posted, bases its assertion on an anonymous source.

The story could only be true if the high school violated the state law for student discipline.

Under state law, a school board must vote on a student's expulsion. That process must give the student's family an opportunity for a hearing.

The school board did not even meet before the West Cook News story in question. Since then, the board has not voted on any expulsion.

The anonymous source may have confused a short-term suspension with an expulsion, which can be for up to two years.

Last week, a West Cook News story reported that a "Lyons Township High School administrator said the school plans to be more lenient in punishing non-white students for once-major transgressions, like fighting and drug use."

The story noted the attack at South Campus. It proceeded to quote Jennifer Rowe, the school's director of diversity, at a meeting earlier this month.

Rowe called for a "non-discriminatory" code of conduct. The story said the same code was used in schools in Chicago, Baltimore, Denver and Buffalo. It said such codes lessen punishments for non-white students.

But the story never quotes Rowe or any other Lyons Township official as saying non-white students would receive lesser discipline.

At this week's board meeting, a member asked Superintendent Brian Waterman whether the school would have two sets of discipline – one for whites and the other for non-whites.

Waterman said the school would not.

Much of West Cook News' sourcing has been anonymous.

The publication does not include the names of its writers for most of its stories.

West Cook News is among a collection of news websites for towns across Illinois. They are listed as being run by Local Government Information Services.

Years ago, the organization was launched, in part, by Chicago conservative radio show host Dan Proft. The websites say in their "About" sections, "Funding for this news site is provided, in part, by advocacy groups who share our beliefs in limited government."

Earlier this week, a man identifying himself as being with West Cook News left a phone message for Patch. He wanted to discuss an email that a Patch reporter wrote. In the email, the Patch reporter said West Cook News recently made "unsupported assertions" about the school.

Patch left several voicemails with the man, but got no return call.

Patch left a message for comment with Proft.