O-ffensive Shirt Sparks Outrage At Long Island School

A shirt created by some students of the senior class at Oceanside High School is creating waves in the community, as many people say that the shirt includes offensive terms for minorities and the disabled, as well as many references to under-aged drinking.

The shirt is an "O" on top of a "17." The O is the same style as the O the school uses to represent itself. However, the O on the shirt is made up of words and phrases, some of which are offensive. Phrases like "sauced" and "losing brain cells" are clearly visible. So are things like "wanker" and "douchebag." The shirt also includes "spednation," an insult to special needs students, and "n****".

The shirt was not made or condoned by the school, but were created by students to commemorate senior cut day, district spokeswoman Donna Kraus said.

In a statement on its website, the district said it is handling the matter. "That some students made an unfortunate and poor choice in no way represents this school district, its young people or the upstanding families of this community," the statement read. "This entire matter will be handled accordingly. We are, however, legally and ethically unable to discuss individual student matters publicly."

Kraus said that the district is still looking into the incident and trying to figure out who created the shirts. She said they were created for a small "friend group," and not for the senior class as a whole. Any punishment the creators of the shirt might receive is also still being discussed, but Kraus would not comment on what it might be.

That did not stop members of the community from voicing their anger over the shirt's design, though.

"Senior shirts have always toyed with inappropriate content and challenged school regulations, but this is taking it too far," another person posted on Facebook. "I'd turn a blind eye to most of these words but the inclusion of 'n****' and 'spednation' is unacceptable. Your fellow students and peers are affected by the words and you are making a mockery of them. The racism and ableism on this shirt is disgusting and I hope you realize the community won't stand for your intolerance. Do better. Educate yourselves and empathize."

Photo: Google Maps