20 Glenbard S. athletes disciplined over Facebook photos

Twenty Glenbard South High School students won’t be able to participate in a portion of their athletic seasons after photos surfaced on Facebook showing them at an underage drinking party, school district officials said Thursday.

The party took place at a student’s house last Saturday night, and Glenbard South administrators learned about it Monday, Superintendent Dave Larson said.

Larson said a total of some 30 students attended the party, but only those identified as participants in athletics are facing disciplinary action per the school’s athletic code of conduct.

The code requires “participants in extracurricular activities to conduct themselves at all times, including after school and on days when school is not in session, and whether on and off school property, as good citizens and exemplars of their school.”

The 20 student-athletes will miss the equivalent of 20 percent of their season, though they are still allowed to practice with their teams. They must also complete substance abuse counseling.

“The photographic evidence is pretty clear. In good faith, we’re following through on following the athletic code. We recognize young adults make poor choices at times,” Larson said.

He says the district has received “overwhelming” cooperation from parents. Administrators have also contacted the families of the other students photographed at the party who aren’t facing disciplinary action.

“This happened off school grounds, during nonschool hours, in a private home of a student, so it’s a different context if it’s a school-sponsored event,” Larson said.