A New Jersey school district has hired an outside law firm to investigate how and why a Jewish student group was erased from the high school yearbook, with the members’ names omitted from the page and their photo replaced with a picture of a group of Muslim students.
East Brunswick Public Schools said the independent review by Brisman Law began Friday and will seek to determine who was responsible, as well as whether it was malicious or a mistake.
“I’m confident the independent counsel investigation will reveal the truth,” Superintendent Victor Valeski said. “They’ve been given complete authority to investigate whatever they need to investigate.”
The superintendent apologized previously for “the hurt, pain and anguish this event has caused our Jewish students” and offered a separate apology to Muslim students.
In a statement, East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen called it a “blatant Anti-Semitic act” and said the probe should consider whether it was a hate crime worthy of prosecution. “Hate has no place in East Brunswick and Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated,” he said.
The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called for a “transparent and fair investigation.” The yearbook incident “has triggered heinous backlash against some Muslim students who had no knowledge on their photo being misused,” spokesperson Aya Elamroussi said in a statement.
The situation came to light Tuesday after about 375 yearbooks were distributed at East Brunswick High.
Valeski said a new photo of the Jewish Student Union was taken this week and will be included, along with the members’ names, in corrected versions of the yearbook that will be distributed next week.
Discipline could be warranted depending on the outcome of the probe, and a corrective plan will be developed for the yearbook, Valeski said.
“There’s absolutely no way it should have happened,” he said. “I believe that this was really a lack of quality control, a lack of oversight.”
A recent controversy has erupted at a high school in New Jersey after a Jewish student group was excluded from the school’s yearbook. The incident has sparked outrage among students, parents, and community members, leading to an investigation into the matter.
The exclusion of the Jewish student group from the yearbook has raised concerns about discrimination and bias within the school’s administration. Many believe that the decision to leave out the group was intentional and discriminatory, as other student groups were included in the yearbook without any issues.
The Jewish student group, which is a prominent and active organization within the school, was shocked and disappointed to find that they were not featured in the yearbook. Members of the group have expressed their frustration and disappointment, feeling marginalized and excluded from the school community.
In response to the controversy, the school district has launched an investigation into the matter. School officials have promised to get to the bottom of what happened and ensure that all student groups are treated fairly and equally in future yearbooks.
The exclusion of the Jewish student group from the yearbook serves as a reminder of the importance of inclusivity and diversity within schools. It is crucial for all students to feel valued and represented in their school community, regardless of their background or beliefs.
As the investigation unfolds, it is important for the school district to take swift and appropriate action to address any instances of discrimination or bias. Students, parents, and community members are eagerly awaiting the results of the investigation and hoping for a resolution that promotes inclusivity and unity within the school.
In conclusion, the exclusion of the Jewish student group from the New Jersey high school yearbook has sparked outrage and raised concerns about discrimination. The investigation into the matter is a crucial step towards ensuring that all students are treated fairly and equally in the school community. It is essential for schools to promote inclusivity and diversity, and to address any instances of bias or discrimination that may arise.
