Administrator suggests families could face $1,030 fine for cheering during graduation

FOX59 ^ | May 9 2018

[EdnaMode]

GREENVILLE, S.C. – A $1,030 fine for cheering at a graduation ceremony?

An administrator at a South Carolina school warned students and parents about the possibility, according to the Greenville News.

The newspaper reported that a slide shown at a school assembly said the following:

Since graduation is a dignified and solemn occasion, graduating seniors and their guests should behave appropriately. Please ask your guests not to call out, cheer, whistle, or applaud during the reading of names and presentation of diplomas.

The citation for family members yelling out is $1,030.

[hanamizu]

My graduating class had 900. If they call out one name every 10 seconds you’re looking at a 2 1/2 hour ceremony, not counting speeches, etc. If you bump it up 15 seconds per name you’re looking at 3 3/4 hours just to call the names. Allowing more time for the graduates to dance, high-five, etc. and what’s the point of having the ceremony at all?

[Pearls Before Swine]

I watched the video. No biggie, he’s just moving them all along. Head ‘em up, move ‘em out, Rawhide!

Kudos to the white guy at the beginning who did a perfect backflip in his full gown.

[Responsibility2nd]

Welcome to the thread. Read the replies.

I would guess you have not been to a high school graduation in many years. Or at least not a typical one.

Would you really want to attend a 4 hour “celebratory event” where certain minorities take over with whoops, hollers, air horns and all that shizit?

I didn’t think so.

[Rome2000]

I agree with you.
I was at the University of Alabama graduation last year, school of business.

Took about 3 hours to go through about 500 kids, no big deal.

The PA system was loud enough for all names to be heard, loud applause for most kids, the blacks for the most part were rather over the top but it’s understandable, this is once in a lifetime.

People need to lighten up.

[silverleaf]

For 300 names?
Nope.
Follow the school rules. Wig out after the ceremony.

[silverleaf]

Aaaand this

[HotHunt]

Well, thanks for deciding what I like or don't like.

Who made you chief arbitrator of other peoples' opinions?

FR on some threads is starting to remind me of liberal PC speech requirements.

If you don't give the "correct" answer, you are berated and mocked.

I guess you haven't read the First Amendment in many years.

I didn't think so.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

Losing battle.

[HotHunt]

Apparently there's more to this story than what was reported in your thread source article. Quotes from the Daily Mail article on this same controversy from another FR thread:

Cheering Fines Not Going To Happen Say District Officials and Police

"....District officials, however, told the [news] outlet that school administrators won't actually fine family members for applauding and yelling at the ceremony, which will be held at the 19,000-seat Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

It is not the district's nor Greenville High School's policy to cite parents, Greenville County Schools spokeswoman Beth Brotherton said, adding that she was not aware how the school [administrator] came up with that figure [$1030].

Because graduation is a 'publicly sanctioned event' and is held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, it is under the jurisdiction of the Greenville Police Department.

Police in Greenville, however, said they have not and will not fine parents and family members for cheering on graduates.

Brotherton said officers will have the authority to issue citations to people who cause a 'disturbance or disruption', but the police department said it has not and will not fine family members for cheering on their graduates.

Screaming somebody's name or congratulating them, that's not a police matter,' Sgt. Johnathan Bragg said. 'We would only get involved when it's actually a criminal matter. As far as charging someone for yelling, we have not done that...."

Bragg said if someone becomes 'continually disruptive' during commencement they may be asked to leave, but it would be up to the arena staff on removing the person.

We've made it very clear that we don't remove people,' he said. 'It's not our property. It's the arena's property."

[Babsig]

Sounds like this “administrator” needs to be outed and disciplined for false threats and bullying.

[trebb]

If you have a big class it can lengthen it considerably if there’s a ruckus after every student steps on stage and they have to either wait to announce the next one of have their name drowned out - polite clapping during and whoop it up after the last student has been recognized.

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

Could be.

I was thinking this. Inside the administrator’s mind:

Graduation’s coming. I like it except for when those damned family and friends shout and carry on. I wish I could stop them. I know! A fine! Yeah. I’ll fine them....a hundred....NO!....a THOUSAND.....NO!....a THOUSAND...AAAAND...THIRTY DOLLARS! A thousand and thirty! Yeah, that’ll teach them!