“It was completely out of control”
Students say food fight became a near riot WARWICK It started as a food fight a senior tradition at the high school but it quickly got out of hand Tuesday at the Warwick Valley High School. According to some of the students, it wasn’t seniors who were involved. It escalated when students began throwing garbage. Then they were knocking over garbage cans, upending tables and chairs and even set off firecrackers in the hallway, which damaged the ceiling. The Warwick Village Police were on the scene but called in the state police to assist later in the day. Sgt. Furvack of the state police Monroe Barracks said they mostly helped control traffic as the students left. The Warwick Advertiser was unable to get any other comments from the state or village police, nor were any school administrators available for comment prior to going to press. But students are talking. MySpace.com was rife with comments, observations and photographs (see sidebar), and rumors abound. Several students were willing to talk to the paper providing their names were not used. None of the kids interviewed said they were involved, but all were present. All said they felt unsafe. “Even when the police were there,” said one junior girl, “nobody seemed to have any control over anything.” She also said she felt it might happen again next year. “Last year it wasn’t as bad, but it was still kinda scary. I think there’s a chance it will happen again.” Rumors included reports of violence by students against teachers and police kicking a student, but The Warwick Advertiser was unable to substantiate anything, including multiple reports of four or five arrests. All the students reported that it seemed to be mostly sophomores and juniors involved. The school was open the following day for testing and for yearbook pickup. One parent told the Warwick Advertiser that she felt very strongly that the kids involved should be made to clean up the mess that was made. (This story was compiled with the help of JoAnn Baker, David Hulse, Josh Taylor, Lindsey Siegreit and Megan Jicha.) What students on MySpace said: We got out for summer vacation Knock Down Mrs. Fox and Security Started Moshpits Had 4 Food Fights Broke Ceilings Had Our Own 4th Of July In The Hallways Kids Got Arrested Lights Were Cut Off We Had Mad Cops At The School Everyone at Least Skipped 2 Classes Had Water Balloon Fights Fought With The Police