Local
Evanston, New Trier districts investigate reported slurs at Ryan Field game
Evanston Township and New Trier school districts are jointly investigating reports that Evanston marching band members faced racist and homophobic abuse during their Oct. 16 football game. Students described hearing slurs, calls for them to harm themselves and an alleged incident of spitting.
Evanston Township High School District 202 and New Trier Township High School District 203 are investigating reports that members of Evanston’s marching band were targeted with racist and homophobic comments during the schools’ Oct. 16 football game at Northwestern University’s Ryan Field.
In a joint statement issued over the weekend, the districts said they were aware of reports that band members faced discriminatory remarks and other offensive behavior from New Trier fans. The administrations are working together to review what happened and determine next steps, they said, and asked anyone with firsthand information to contact their school administration.
Evanston band member Kevin Watts said he heard racial and homophobic slurs. Bandmate Kiro Tabor said a group of boys yelled a racial slur at him during a pregame cheer near the New Trier student section. Tabor and Watts also described a bandmate being spat on as the group left, and Watts said students told them to kill themselves.
The districts said they would pursue a thorough review and appropriate action based on its findings, while protecting student privacy. Their statement said students should be able to attend events without feeling that their dignity or belonging has been demeaned, and described respect and accountability as expectations for both school communities.