Newton North High School students cannot attend football games until further notice after fights and underage drinking at the Oct. 9 game against Natick.
Interim principal Lisa Gilbert-Smith announced the ban in a ParentSquare message to families on Wednesday, Oct. 14, citing "physical and verbal altercations, disrespectful actions to the community, and intoxication," as reported by The Newtonite, the school's student newspaper. Gilbert-Smith called the Natick game part of a pattern, saying the frequency and severity of student behavior problems this year are a deep concern.
Head football coach Nick Capodilupo, who also serves as Barry House dean, told The Newtonite he noticed police cars moving back and forth on Hull Street during the game. Senior Julia Jauregui said she saw intoxicated students and heard others warning that breathalyzer tests were being given.
Parents and guardians may still attend games. Gilbert-Smith did not set a date for lifting the ban, writing that administrators need time to reset expectations.
The ban was already in effect for the Tigers' Oct. 16 road game at Wellesley, with students barred from attending. Newton North won 31-6. Running back Domenic Busa scored three touchdowns in the victory, according to MassLive. The Tigers are now 5-1.
Junior Connor Swanson, a football player, said the ban amounts to collective punishment. He told The Newtonite that while disciplining students who fought or drank was fair, barring everyone was not. Swanson also raised concerns about the playoff stretch: "If they're not back by the time we're in playoffs, I think that for sure will impact us."
Senior Kian Van Vliet said he understood the school's reasoning but wished administrators had found another approach, given that seniors want to attend as many games as possible. Riley House dean Fiona Healy said the decision was driven by safety concerns.
Newton North travels to Cumberland, R.I., on Friday, Oct. 23. Whether students will be allowed back in the stands by then remains unclear.
