Mother Raising Questions After MHS Student's Hair Set on Fire

by Judy Silberstein

(October 7, 2003) On Tuesday, October 1, Leah Alexander received a distressing phone message from her son, a Mamaroneck High School student. Someone had set his dreadlocks on fire.

According to the son, he had been napping outdoors during a free period when he awoke to find his hair smoking. Students who witnessed the event informed him that another male student had first lit a piece of paper on fire and then used that to start the hair smoking.

There was no damage to the son’s scalp or face, but he did lose a number of locks of hair.

In addition, the mother reported that when her son returned to school on Wednesday, other students made what she characterized as harassing or threatening comments. “You’re going to get it,” was one comment.

The mother is asking: Was this a prank? An assault? A hate crime?

One friend of the suspended student suggested he had just been “fooling around.”

But, Mrs. Alexander said a witness reported the boy saying he wished he had cologne to throw on the hair so he could ignite it. Others told her this student has been in trouble before, though her son had had no previous contact with him.

“I question whether this could be a bias crime,” said Mrs. Alexander. Her son is African-American, the other student is white, she noted. She added, “I’m concerned for my son’s safety, and that of other students. Not knowing what the provocation was leaves the motivation speculative. This is a disturbed young man.”

Mrs. Alexander learned that the alleged fire-setter was suspended from school, but she expressed concern that the school district might not be taking sufficient steps to insure the future safety of her son, or of other students.

Fairness is also an issue for Mrs. Alexander. “Had the tables been turned, I think there would be harsher punitive measures. I want to be sure this is treated fairly,” she said.

She has brought the incident to the attention of the Village of Mamaroneck Police Department and the Westchester District Attorney’s office. In addition, she has consulted with a counselor and an attorney, and discussed the incident in televised interviews aired on Thursday by Westchester News 12 (See: News 12 article and video), and on Friday by CBS 2.

Village of Mamaroneck Police Lieutenant Mary Matero confirmed, “It’s being actively investigated.” She did not know of any charges having been brought yet. “Because the suspect is aged 17, a regular detective is investigating,” she advised. However, the detective is collaborating with the youth officer.

This week the school district has taken further action. “In addition to a temporary suspension, additional consequences were imposed for the student in this case,” said district spokesperson Joan Rosen, on Wednesday, October 8. “Principals may impose an immediate short-term suspension of up to five days; if the circumstances warrant a longer term suspension, the Superintendent will conduct a hearing and can impose a suspension of more than 5 days.”

Further details were not revealed. “All disciplinary matters are confidential between the student, the parents and the school district,” she explained.

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