William G. Enloe Magnet High School in North Carolina is facing backlash from its student body as well as some parents for a very controversial decision involving one of the school's deceased students.
17-year-old student Rachel Rosoff passed away last September after she was electrocuted and drowned while on duty at Heritage Point Pool as a lifeguard.
The teen was headed into her senior year at the time of her death and would've been part of the graduating class of 2017.
Since Rachel would never have the chance to attend her graduation ceremony, her friends and family requested that the school acknowledge her memory during the event. However, their request was denied.
In an email to Rachel's mom, Michelle, Principal Chavis wrote that the school refrains from memorials at the ceremony because "Graduation is meant to be a ceremony for students' accomplishments and a celebration thereof, we want to ensure that the ceremony maintains a happy, vibrant feel."
He added that if the deceased is brought up it may cause students to "react in ways that would take trained professionals (i.e. counselors) to support." A claim which Rachel's mom, a therapist, said is simply not true.
The bereaved mom shared the "disheartening" email on Facebook and her sister, Jordana started a petition in hopes that the school would reverse its decision.
So this is the e mail i received from the principal at Enloe regarding Rachel Rosoff graduation. This is so disheartening and a dahm shame. Wake county should be ashamed
Posted by Michelle Schwartz Rosoff on Wednesday, May 3, 2017
"They feel it may cause sadness and bring people down on a day that is suppose to be celebratory," Jordana wrote on the petition page. "They want to pretend she did not exist, which not only hurts me, but my family and her friends. I just want my sister to be recognized and acknowledged for the beautiful, goofy, funny, carefree, caring person she was."
Find out what happened after the school caught wind of this petition on the next page.
Jordana's petition has had over 5,000 signatures but it hasn't led to any change as of yet.
A spokesperson for the school district, Lisa Luten, told Buzzfeed that the decision was made "based on guidelines recommended by National Association of School Psychologists."
Rachel's friends don't seem to agree with this decision either because they don't see the harm in remembering their friend who was " a free spirit with a genuine and kind heart" and was "actively involved at school."
"I think it's more of a sad thing that they can't recognize her. She should be there with us," said her best friend Victoria Ward.
"I think we'll be okay if they mention her. It will actually be better than if they don't mention her, " another friend, Alissa Brasington, told WRAL.
What makes this situation seem even more unfair to those close to Rachel is the fact that the school has held memorials during past commencement ceremonies.
A former English teacher at the school, Melinda Carter, confirmed this with a comment on the petition page. She wrote: "several years students who had died were acknowledged at graduation."
The family hasn't heard from school officials since the story went viral but Michelle is taking matters into her own hands.
To ensure that her daughter's memory lives on, she started a scholarship fund in Rachel's name.
"This scholarship is to honor our beautiful daughter and to encourage others to get in touch with their inner self and creativity to express through words and self-insight what it is in your life that you need to ensure your happiness, recognizing that it is different for everyone," wrote Michelle.
What do you make of the school's decision? Let us know in the comments!
