Verifying a news story?

Beth · 18th February 2006, 07:58 AM

News story I was sent:

Quote:

Doodle' gets high school teen expelled

MCHENRY, Ill., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old boy who doodled an alleged gang symbol in his notebook has been expelled from high school in McHenry, Ill.....The Chicago Tribune reported board officials said a doodle of a crown, a cross and a spider web with the initials "D.L.K." in the middle was a symbol of a street gang. The youth's full name is Derek Leon Kelly....

It's from United Press International at http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php

Now, if true, I would think this story would be in the news. Maybe not major news, but at least locally it would be discussed. All other articles I can find on this reference this one as a source. McHenry Ill. is real enough, but when I googled on the kids name, I didn't get any local news hits which makes me suspect the story is bogus.

Now, given the current political climite in the U.S. I don't find it completely unbelievable , but I do find it implausible. Any ideas (or sources) to confirm or debunk this story? Anyone know how reliable UPI is as a source of news?

Thanks.

Mahatma Kane Jeeves · 18th February 2006, 08:08 AM

These seem to be original articles from a local paper, not wire service reports:

Editorial: Expulsion too harsh

School is drawing on policy

Expulsion for gang drawings raises questions

D-156 board votes to expel teen after drawings of 'gang symbols'

Beth · 18th February 2006, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mahatma Kane Jeeves

These seem to be original articles from a local paper, not wire service reports:

Editorial: Expulsion too harsh

School is drawing on policy

Expulsion for gang drawings raises questions

D-156 board votes to expel teen after drawings of 'gang symbols'

Okay. Sounds like it's for real. My google skills are weak, so thanks for finding those links.

epepke · 19th February 2006, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Beth

News story I was sent:

It's from United Press International at http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php

Now, if true, I would think this story would be in the news. Maybe not major news, but at least locally it would be discussed. All other articles I can find on this reference this one as a source. McHenry Ill. is real enough, but when I googled on the kids name, I didn't get any local news hits which makes me suspect the story is bogus.

Now, given the current political climite in the U.S. I don't find it completely unbelievable , but I do find it implausible. Any ideas (or sources) to confirm or debunk this story? Anyone know how reliable UPI is as a source of news?

Thanks.

I can't confirm or deny this story, but several years ago (during the Clinton years), my pseudostepson was expelled for some drawings and notes. They weren't even gang symbols. There were some notes on a video game, and a hand-drawn map of the school. Also a xeroxed copy of an article on the Holocaust (he's a Jew).

I wanted to fight it, but his biological father and mother were (and still are, I suppose) spineless wusses, and I didn't have any power. At least I'm not married to her any more.

Charlie Monoxide · 19th February 2006, 12:32 PM

True story:

Way back when I was in the 3rd grade (around 1968 or so), my class was asked to write a short story in my English class. Being an impressionable Canadian youth, I wrote a story titled "Hells Angels on Sleds". I went and googled "Hell Angles on Wheels" and saw it was released in 1967. I guess that was my inspiration. It was a good story about a bunch of hoodlums on sleds (dang, I wish I still had it).

My teacher seemed quite aghast. She took me aside and asked me why I would write such a story. I doubt that I had written about any sex or violence in the story (I didn't "discover" girls until later). Still, I remember the teacher's reaction to this day.

Charlie (spare the creativity and spoil the child) Monoxide

Beerina · 19th February 2006, 05:17 PM

Reminds me of a Norm MacDonald news story on SNL a number of years ago.

"A 27-year postal worker was fired this week for keeping two magazines that were addressed to non-existent addresses. Postal officials admitted they could have let him off with a warning, but then he wouldn't come back some day and kill everybody."

CapelDodger · 19th February 2006, 05:25 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Monoxide

Being an impressionable Canadian youth, I wrote a story titled "Hells Angels on Sleds".

"What are you rebelling against?"
"Waddya got, sir?"

Charlie Monoxide · 19th February 2006, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by CapelDodger

"What are you rebelling against?"
"Waddya got, sir?"

Heck, what does a 3rd grader have to rebel against? Amazingly I ask this question after years of watching South Park.

Charlie (don't kill Kenny, you bastards!) Monoxide

WildCat · 19th February 2006, 08:34 PM

A crown and cross are symbols of the Latin Kings street gang around here, especially so when combined w/ the letters "L-K".

"D-L-K" could very well be initials of a gang slogan, I know for certain that "L-K-N" stands for "Latin King Nation" for example. Graffiti w/ those exact initials w/ the crown and/or cross adorn many a building in the Chicago metro area to mark the gangs turf. And though it is primarily a Hispanic gang, it has both black and white members.

Now, it could all be a bizarre coincidence that this kid happened to draw such symbols together in complete ignorance of their significance, but it's also very unlikely.

Kevin_Lowe · 20th February 2006, 01:15 AM

Originally Posted by WildCat

A crown and cross are symbols of the Latin Kings street gang around here, especially so when combined w/ the letters "L-K".

"D-L-K" could very well be initials of a gang slogan, I know for certain that "L-K-N" stands for "Latin King Nation" for example. Graffiti w/ those exact initials w/ the crown and/or cross adorn many a building in the Chicago metro area to mark the gangs turf. And though it is primarily a Hispanic gang, it has both black and white members.

Now, it could all be a bizarre coincidence that this kid happened to draw such symbols together in complete ignorance of their significance, but it's also very unlikely.

Especially if he saw his initials, or something close to his initials, spraypainted on walls all the time. It would certainly catch my attention and stick in my mind if "KL" was spraypainted on a wall.

Mind you doodling a gang symbol (especially one with a coincidental link to oneself) is not exactly evidence of hardcore villainy.

WildCat · 20th February 2006, 04:53 AM

Originally Posted by Kevin_Lowe

Mind you doodling a gang symbol (especially one with a coincidental link to oneself) is not exactly evidence of hardcore villainy.

No, but it has no place in a school. If the different gangs are allowed to put their symbols anywhere they want it leads to violence. To a gang member, a rival gang member fashing his colors is equivalent to fighting words.

Kevin_Lowe · 20th February 2006, 06:57 AM

Originally Posted by WildCat

No, but it has no place in a school. If the different gangs are allowed to put their symbols anywhere they want it leads to violence. To a gang member, a rival gang member fashing his colors is equivalent to fighting words.

Was the kid in question "putting his symbol anywhere he wanted it", "flashing his colours" or doing anything else likely to cause trouble?

There's clearly a difference between private doodling and the public display of a symbol as a means of group identification. If he was just doodling he has my sympathies, but if he was engaging in gang behaviour he does not.

Is this another one of those US "zero intelligence" policies in action? It sounds like it could be.

Art Vandelay · 20th February 2006, 06:36 PM

"A 16-year-old freshman sketched a cross and a crown with five points, among other figures, on paper."

Anyone else find this odd?

TragicMonkey · 21st February 2006, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Art Vandelay

"A 16-year-old freshman sketched a cross and a crown with five points, among other figures, on paper."

Anyone else find this odd?

At first, I was going to say "no", because there are a lot of dumb kids. Then I realized that yes, it is odd, that nobody socially promoted him anyway.

18th February 2006, 07:58 AM	#1
Beth Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Flatland Posts: 5,307	Verifying a news story? News story I was sent: Quote: Doodle' gets high school teen expelled MCHENRY, Ill., Jan. 18 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old boy who doodled an alleged gang symbol in his notebook has been expelled from high school in McHenry, Ill.....The Chicago Tribune reported board officials said a doodle of a crown, a cross and a spider web with the initials "D.L.K." in the middle was a symbol of a street gang. The youth's full name is Derek Leon Kelly.... It's from United Press International at http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php Now, if true, I would think this story would be in the news. Maybe not major news, but at least locally it would be discussed. All other articles I can find on this reference this one as a source. McHenry Ill. is real enough, but when I googled on the kids name, I didn't get any local news hits which makes me suspect the story is bogus. Now, given the current political climite in the U.S. I don't find it completely unbelievable , but I do find it implausible. Any ideas (or sources) to confirm or debunk this story? Anyone know how reliable UPI is as a source of news? Thanks.
	__________________ Beth "You are not the stuff of which you are made." Richard Dawkins, July 2005, 10:45 http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_daw..._universe.html

18th February 2006, 08:08 AM	#2
Mahatma Kane Jeeves Muse Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 829	These seem to be original articles from a local paper, not wire service reports: Editorial: Expulsion too harsh School is drawing on policy Expulsion for gang drawings raises questions D-156 board votes to expel teen after drawings of 'gang symbols'
Mahatma Kane Jeeves Muse Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 829

18th February 2006, 09:02 AM	#3
Beth Philosopher Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Flatland Posts: 5,307	Originally Posted by Mahatma Kane Jeeves These seem to be original articles from a local paper, not wire service reports: Editorial: Expulsion too harsh School is drawing on policy Expulsion for gang drawings raises questions D-156 board votes to expel teen after drawings of 'gang symbols' Okay. Sounds like it's for real. My google skills are weak, so thanks for finding those links.
	__________________ Beth "You are not the stuff of which you are made." Richard Dawkins, July 2005, 10:45 http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_daw..._universe.html

19th February 2006, 10:52 AM	#4
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950	Originally Posted by Beth News story I was sent: It's from United Press International at http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php Now, if true, I would think this story would be in the news. Maybe not major news, but at least locally it would be discussed. All other articles I can find on this reference this one as a source. McHenry Ill. is real enough, but when I googled on the kids name, I didn't get any local news hits which makes me suspect the story is bogus. Now, given the current political climite in the U.S. I don't find it completely unbelievable , but I do find it implausible. Any ideas (or sources) to confirm or debunk this story? Anyone know how reliable UPI is as a source of news? Thanks. I can't confirm or deny this story, but several years ago (during the Clinton years), my pseudostepson was expelled for some drawings and notes. They weren't even gang symbols. There were some notes on a video game, and a hand-drawn map of the school. Also a xeroxed copy of an article on the Holocaust (he's a Jew). I wanted to fight it, but his biological father and mother were (and still are, I suppose) spineless wusses, and I didn't have any power. At least I'm not married to her any more.
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950	__________________ "It probably came from a sticky dark planet far, far away." - Godzilla versus Hedora "There's no evidence that the 9-11 attacks (whoever did them) were deliberately attacking civilians. On the contrary the targets appear to have been chosen as military." -DavidByron

19th February 2006, 12:32 PM	#5
Charlie Monoxide Wag Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 2,761	True story: Way back when I was in the 3rd grade (around 1968 or so), my class was asked to write a short story in my English class. Being an impressionable Canadian youth, I wrote a story titled "Hells Angels on Sleds". I went and googled "Hell Angles on Wheels" and saw it was released in 1967. I guess that was my inspiration. It was a good story about a bunch of hoodlums on sleds (dang, I wish I still had it). My teacher seemed quite aghast. She took me aside and asked me why I would write such a story. I doubt that I had written about any sex or violence in the story (I didn't "discover" girls until later). Still, I remember the teacher's reaction to this day. Charlie (spare the creativity and spoil the child) Monoxide
	__________________ Major General Wag of JREF

19th February 2006, 05:17 PM	#6
Beerina Sarcastic Conqueror of Notions Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: A floating island above the clouds Posts: 23,835	Reminds me of a Norm MacDonald news story on SNL a number of years ago. "A 27-year postal worker was fired this week for keeping two magazines that were addressed to non-existent addresses. Postal officials admitted they could have let him off with a warning, but then he wouldn't come back some day and kill everybody."
	__________________ "Great innovations should not be forced [by way of] slender majorities." - Thomas Jefferson The government should nationalize it! Socialized, single-payer video game development and sales *now!* More, cheaper, better games, right? Right?

19th February 2006, 05:25 PM	#7
CapelDodger Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Cardiff, South Wales Posts: 16,744	Originally Posted by Charlie Monoxide Being an impressionable Canadian youth, I wrote a story titled "Hells Angels on Sleds". "What are you rebelling against?" "Waddya got, sir?"
	__________________ It's a poor sort of memory that only works backward - Lewis Carroll (1832-1898) God can make a cow out of a tree, but has He ever done so? Therefore show some reason why a thing is so, or cease to hold that it is so - William of Conches, c1150

19th February 2006, 08:28 PM	#8
Charlie Monoxide Wag Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 2,761	Originally Posted by CapelDodger "What are you rebelling against?" "Waddya got, sir?" Heck, what does a 3rd grader have to rebel against? Amazingly I ask this question after years of watching South Park. Charlie (don't kill Kenny, you bastards!) Monoxide
	__________________ Major General Wag of JREF

19th February 2006, 08:34 PM	#9
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 49,139	A crown and cross are symbols of the Latin Kings street gang around here, especially so when combined w/ the letters "L-K". "D-L-K" could very well be initials of a gang slogan, I know for certain that "L-K-N" stands for "Latin King Nation" for example. Graffiti w/ those exact initials w/ the crown and/or cross adorn many a building in the Chicago metro area to mark the gangs turf. And though it is primarily a Hispanic gang, it has both black and white members. Now, it could all be a bizarre coincidence that this kid happened to draw such symbols together in complete ignorance of their significance, but it's also very unlikely.

20th February 2006, 01:15 AM	#10
Kevin_Lowe Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Queensland Posts: 10,285	Originally Posted by WildCat A crown and cross are symbols of the Latin Kings street gang around here, especially so when combined w/ the letters "L-K". "D-L-K" could very well be initials of a gang slogan, I know for certain that "L-K-N" stands for "Latin King Nation" for example. Graffiti w/ those exact initials w/ the crown and/or cross adorn many a building in the Chicago metro area to mark the gangs turf. And though it is primarily a Hispanic gang, it has both black and white members. Now, it could all be a bizarre coincidence that this kid happened to draw such symbols together in complete ignorance of their significance, but it's also very unlikely. Especially if he saw his initials, or something close to his initials, spraypainted on walls all the time. It would certainly catch my attention and stick in my mind if "KL" was spraypainted on a wall. Mind you doodling a gang symbol (especially one with a coincidental link to oneself) is not exactly evidence of hardcore villainy.
	__________________ Thinking is skilled work....People with untrained minds should no more expect to think clearly and logically than people who have never learned and never practiced can expect to find themselves good carpenters, golfers, bridge-players, or pianists. -- Alfred Mander

20th February 2006, 04:53 AM	#11
WildCat NWO Master Conspirator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany Park, Chicago Posts: 49,139	Originally Posted by Kevin_Lowe Mind you doodling a gang symbol (especially one with a coincidental link to oneself) is not exactly evidence of hardcore villainy. No, but it has no place in a school. If the different gangs are allowed to put their symbols anywhere they want it leads to violence. To a gang member, a rival gang member fashing his colors is equivalent to fighting words.

20th February 2006, 06:57 AM	#12
Kevin_Lowe Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Queensland Posts: 10,285	Originally Posted by WildCat No, but it has no place in a school. If the different gangs are allowed to put their symbols anywhere they want it leads to violence. To a gang member, a rival gang member fashing his colors is equivalent to fighting words. Was the kid in question "putting his symbol anywhere he wanted it", "flashing his colours" or doing anything else likely to cause trouble? There's clearly a difference between private doodling and the public display of a symbol as a means of group identification. If he was just doodling he has my sympathies, but if he was engaging in gang behaviour he does not. Is this another one of those US "zero intelligence" policies in action? It sounds like it could be.
	__________________ Thinking is skilled work....People with untrained minds should no more expect to think clearly and logically than people who have never learned and never practiced can expect to find themselves good carpenters, golfers, bridge-players, or pianists. -- Alfred Mander

20th February 2006, 06:36 PM	#13
Art Vandelay Illuminator Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 4,790	"A 16-year-old freshman sketched a cross and a crown with five points, among other figures, on paper." Anyone else find this odd?

21st February 2006, 09:58 AM	#14
TragicMonkey Poisoned Waffles Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Monkey Posts: 30,114	Originally Posted by Art Vandelay "A 16-year-old freshman sketched a cross and a crown with five points, among other figures, on paper." Anyone else find this odd? At first, I was going to say "no", because there are a lot of dumb kids. Then I realized that yes, it is odd, that nobody socially promoted him anyway.
	__________________ One cannot expect wisdom to flow from a pumpkin.