An LAPD officer detains a male who does not attend the school.
Zaineh Saleh and Axel Brito
Crimson Chronicle Reporters
UPDATE (Friday, May 13) – More fights took place during lunch and after school on Thursday, May, 12. Students received a notification on the “citizen” app as the school requested extra police presence. Fights were reported on the Selma and Highland gate and proceeded all the way to Chick-Fil-A.
In an email to faculty, the principal stated that students who were involved “will not be on campus.” An email to parents was also sent out this morning.
According to a Schoology update, the principal has also taken steps to ensure student safety and campus security by implementing a “staggered dismissal” so that magnet buses leave exactly at 3:00 pm.
Hollywood High experienced a series of intense fights on Tuesday, prompting the Los Angeles Police Department to have a presence on school grounds.
The first fight occurred at 10:04 a.m. during third period. The fight started in a PAM algebra class but spilled out to the quad. This later extended to further fights occurring during nutrition.
This led to the main building having its doors locked to prevent any further fighting from ensuing. However, during lunch, several more fights broke out to the point that the administration had to cut lunch short by 20 minutes.
The lunch fight was reportedly caused by two friend groups avenging their friends from the earlier fights and led to an all-out brawl.
“When I saw everybody running, I thought it was something serious like a shooting,” said Mackenzie Fagen, an SAS freshman.
As the school day ended, administration canceled all after-school activities and banned any student from staying on campus. Yet another fight sprang up near In & Out and police were seen detaining a student.
“It was insane to see the whole student body out with their phones trying to look at the fight. I think it’s immature and made the situation way worse,” said Catherine Morales SAS, freshman.
Principal Samuel Dovlatian addressed the incidents during a school webinar today at 8:40 am. During the webinar, he emphasized the new policies that will be enforced. They included banning wandering around school or “ditching,” allowing emergency bathroom leaves only, and making teachers greet students at the door.
“Any student who’s involved in a fight will be subject to suspension or expulsion,” said Dovlatian.
I can’t believe y’all really sat there and wrote an article without talking to anybody who was really involved. This is sad. I was arrested too!! I’m in the ****ing picture. And the boy arrested with me is my Best Friends Boyfriend who was not involved. He was there to make sure we got home safe. Unlike Hollywood High School, we care about our safety, the school just cares about how they look so y’all just helped them look better by making us look bad. **** y’all Chronicle ****. Y’all never know ****. Stick to school activities. Not unknown altercations. We were harassed and jumped by many students so we defended ourselves. That’s it. That’s all. *** *** web page. ***** *** school. **** everybody. Dumb *** ******. Goofy *** ****.
Everyone is entitled to their point of view. I’m sure there are many versions of what happened last week. Nonetheless, provoking others or resorting to violence is not acceptable on this campus or anywhere. There are many HHS staff members who you can go to to resolve problems peacefully.
Thanks for the great reporting and keeping the school informed.