© 2024 Interlochen
CLASSICAL IPR | 88.7 FM Interlochen | 94.7 FM Traverse City | 88.5 FM Mackinaw City IPR NEWS | 91.5 FM Traverse City | 90.1 FM Harbor Springs/Petoskey | 89.7 FM Manistee/Ludington
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

TCAPS investigating alleged racist behavior on social media from high school students

Dan Wanschura

Traverse City Area Public Schools officials are investigating allegations of racist behavior on the popular app Snapchat from high school students.

District Superintendent John VanWagoner says some students have taken part in an online trend where pictures of students of color are posted and assigned prices.

“It’s going around the nation,” he said. “I find it disgusting.”

VanWagoner says the district is investigating this and suspensions and expulsions for guilty parties are on the table.

"We are going to hold students accountable to the full authority of board policy and federal Title IX law," he said.

VanWagoner says the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office is also involved.

Max came to IPR in 2017 as an environmental intern. In 2018, he returned to the station as a reporter and quickly took on leadership roles as Interim News Director and eventually Assignment Editor. Before joining IPR, Max worked as a news director and reporter at Michigan State University's student radio station WDBM. In 2018, he reported on a Title IX dispute with MSU in his story "Prompt, Thorough and Impartial." His work has also been heard on Michigan Radio, WDBM and WKAR in East Lansing and NPR.