Friday,Feb.16, 1996 Vol. XLII, No. 17 Cabrini College Radnor, Pa. 19087
Schoolyardviolence:
Polee beatingsign of times by Kimberly Sheldron & Jamie Latshaw editor in chief & copy editor/ writing coach
Withnothing else to do on a hot summer night, a group of Northeast Philadelphia teenagers meets at a 7-11. The store is located on a busy comer, about a five-minute drive from the front steps of the church where Eddie Polee was beaten to death. Mix hot tempers and tension among teens from rival neighborhoods. Add some alcohol. What would normally be a simple exchange of bitter words develops into a possible exchange of bullets. This scene may sound like a Hollywood movie. But it is actually a way some Cabrini students from Philadelphia and suburbs spent thejr teenage weekend nights "hanging out" on street comers or at playgrounds with their parents' approval. Parents may have thought such hanging out was innocent, but what most parents don't know is that violence, weapons and drugs sometimes prevail - even in what many people call the "nice section of Philadelphia." "What else is there to do?" Sam, a resident of Northeast Philadelphia who often hung out in the local Mayfair playground, asked. "We hung around, drank and played basketball." Sam is a student from Cabrini College who asked that his real name not be used. Violent crimes by teens more than doubled in the years most Cabrini students were growing up, according to 1994 census data. The violence often occurs on school playgrounds at night. By day the playground is full of students taking a break between classes; by night the darknes.shas become a blanket under which teenagers can hide their supplies of alcohol. A Father Judge High School graduate, Sam said violencewas very common in his neighborhood. From fighting with students from another school on the bus ride home to guns in the playground, a survey of 100 Cabrini students revealedthat 80 per-
photo illustration by Garoline Croley
Violence among teens frequently occurs because of rivalries between gangs from neighboring schools and even occurs on school buses and school playgrounds.
cent of those who reside in the city consider their neighborhoods to be very violent. Across the country, an estimated 270,000 guns are carried to school every day by students, according to the "Statistical Record of Children." The Rev. Joe DiMauro, principal of Father Judge High School in Northeast Philadelphia, said although fights do break outwithin the school, there has not been a problem controlling them. According to DiMauro, Father Judge has adopted strict policies to keep the level of violence to a minimum. If a student is involved in a fight, he is suspended. If weapons are involved, the student isexpelled. A student who takes part in a fight off campus and can be identified as a Father Judge student can be subject to the same punishment. Although DiMauro denies that high schools are the most common setting for violent acts, he identified three reasons for the tunnoil.
The influence of a gang First, DiMauro said violence normally takes place among groups of teenagers, not between individuals. "Any good kid can turn into a
devil when he's a member of a group," DiMauro said. Gangs are a strong force in high schools. Between a third and a half of high school students report that other students in their schools belong to fighting gangs, according to the "Statistical Record of Children." The study also reported that although only a small percentage of youths joins delinquent gangs, homicide and aggravated assault are three times more likely to be committed by gang members than by non-gang delinquents. Even teen girls get into the act. At the Polee trial, although no girl was arrested, a rumor of a rape supposedly set off the Abington teens in their plot to take revenge on the Fox Chase teens. Girls were present at the killing and testified that they did nothing to stop the beating. While the survey of Cabrini students revealed that few, if any, females were perpetrators or victims of violent acts, the "Statistical Record of Children" reported that female involvement in gang violence is believed to be increasing.
Alcohol and marijuana
' Second, DiMauro said anytime violence takes place among teenagers, alcohol or marijuana is usually involved. He said it is easy for teenagers to illegally obtain these drugs. "Your inhibitions go wild when under the influence," he said. According to a study published in the "Journal of Studies on Alcohol," alcohol plays a significant role in adolescent deaths due to criminality. While nearly 40 percent of youths in long-term,state-operatedjuvenile institutions were under the influence of drugs at the time of their current offenses, nearly 50 percent of them were under the influence of alcohol, according to the "Statistical Record of Children."
Where are the parents? DiMauro also pinpointed the economy as a factor in the increase of teenage violence. "My mom always wanted to move," Sam said. "But we haven't been able to afford it." DiMauro said the state of economy forces parents of young children to balance two or three jobs with parenthood. Although he said he cannot blame the par-
Week at a Glance ... News
pg.4
Find out how Xavier Hall celebrated Valentine's Day.
A&E
pgs.6&7
"Bed of Roses" receives dueling reviews.
Sports
pg.11
Lacrosse prepares to tackle upcoming season.
Friday t/Valentine's Pany 9 p.m. 10 1 a.m. in the WCGA. tlDeadline for resident assistant and orientation counselor applications.
Saturday
Sunday ll"Gospel Rama at 4 p.m. Contact the Ethnic Student Alliance for more information. tlGospel Mass at 6 p.m in the chapel.
Monday
ents, he said their children normally resent the fact that they are not getting the presence they need. All of those convicted in the Polee murder came from singleparent homes. The "Statistical Record of Children" also reported that over 50 percent of youths under the age of 18 in long-term, state-operated juvenile institutions lived with only their mothers while growing up. . "The kids go to gangs for peer support instead of parental support," DiMauro said. Sam said his parents were aware of his contributions to the violent neighborhood. However their knowledge of his behaviors came from outside sources. He said his parents expressed their concern to him. "But I would tell them to shut up and leave me alone," he said. Although DiMauro said he sees organized groups of teenagers as the cause for the increasing violence, he said an organized group of adults is the solution. Fairview, the section where Father Judge is located, has a Town Watch program in effect. "As soon as they're there, the kids run," DiMauro said. "Eddie Polee would be alive today if they had Town Watch." Since the death of Eddie Polee, his Fox Chase neighborhood has formed a Town Watch program. Sam said his group of friends often finds trouble even though the group does not look for it. He admitted that his friends do take part in violence. But he said he knows when it should stop. How far is too far? "When your friends are beating a kid with a bat and he's about to die," Sam said. "I wouldn't let it go as far as the Eddie Polee incident." DiMauro said violence among teenagers happens every day in the area. "Eddie Polee made the paper because he died," he said. Sam said Polec's death did not have much of an effect on his life. "It doesn't bother me," he said. "What are you gonna do- hide all the time?"
Feb. 16 to Feb. 22 Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
ll"Openforum with
tlAsh Wednesday Mass at 12:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. in the chapel.
tl''How to Choose a Major~ workshop 12:30 p.m. (pt. 2). ....Uturgy service in the chapel at 12:30 p.m. sponsored by ESA. ll"BingoNight in the WCGA at 9:30 p.m.
President Iadarola for all commuters, 12:30 p.m. in the WCGA. tlMardi Gras pany at 1 p.m. in the Widener Center Conference Room. tl''How to Choose a Major" workshop 12:30 p.m. (pt. 1).