Students protest response to alleged assaults
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 years, 9 months AGO
Students from Moses Lake High School march Wednesday to protest what they said was an inadequate response to allegations of sexual harassment and assault among MLHS students.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | November 26, 2021 1:05 AM
MOSES LAKE — Up to 100 Moses Lake High School students marched from the high school to the Moses Lake School District offices Wednesday morning, protesting what they said is an inadequate response to allegations of sexual assault by students against other students, and bringing awareness to the issue.
Taylor Garza, a MLHS student and one of the march organizers, said she had heard of allegations of assault at MLHS, and the marchers believed the response of MLHS and district officials hasn’t addressed their concerns.
Calls to the Moses Lake School District superintendent’s office were not returned by press time.
Garza said incidents of assault and harassment that led to the protest have occurred on campus at MLHS, as well as off campus. Garza also said the marchers want school district officials to acknowledge the problem and ensure there are repercussions. Jenna Jolley, another MLHS student who helped organize the march, said the marchers believed the response of the authorities, both at school and in the community, was dismissive.
However, Moses Lake Police Department Chief Kevin Fuhr said Wednesday the MLPD school resource officer heard Tuesday from who was believed to be a third-party source about an assault that occurred two months ago, perhaps off campus. Fuhr also said the officer was trying to figure out if the allegations were true and where the alleged assault happened, and the MLPD likely would know more after the holiday break.
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