Alleged racial slurs at Howard County JV football game prompt investigation

During a Howard County junior varsity football game Monday, some student athletes allegedly used racial slurs and other offensive language with their opponents.

Principals at Atholton and Glenelg high schools sent a joint community message to the schools’ communities Wednesday acknowledging that they’re “aware of serious concerns” regarding this week’s game between their two schools.

“Reports indicate that students were subjected to repeated racial slurs and offensive language during the game,” the joint email states. “We recognize that these reports are deeply troubling and that incidents of this nature can have a significant impact on students, families, and our broader school community.”

Glenelg High’s student population is predominately white, with 58% of its students identified as white and 6% as Black, according to state education data. Atholton High’s student population consists of 33% Black students and 28% white students, the data shows.

The principals did not provide details about the incident or say which school was on the receiving end of the alleged racial slurs and offensive remarks.

Atholton High Principal Shawn Hastings-Hauf and Glenelg High Principal Nick Novak wrote in their statement that they “take allegations of this nature extremely seriously” and are working with school system staff to investigate the incident.

Brian Bassett, a Howard County Public Schools spokesperson, said in a statement that an investigation is underway to “understand the full extent of the allegations and what occurred.”

If the investigation confirms that any school system policies, including those related to bullying, hate/bias, harassment, cyberbullying, and the Student Code of Conduct were violated, those violations will be addressed, the principals said in their message.

Novak was the principal of Atholton High last year until he was put on extended leave in the spring following an “emotional interaction” with students in the cafeteria. According to recorded video footage, Novak accused students of throwing food. The video appears to show the principal in a heated exchange with a group of students as he wipes down a cafeteria table and then throws wet paper at some students, amid laughing and yelling.

This is Hastings-Hauf’s first year as Atholton High’s principal. She previously was the principal at Glenelg High.

Last month, Howard High School canceled the remainder of its junior varsity football season after student athletes attempted to put one of their teammates in a locker room toilet.

Seven junior varsity football players face second-degree assault charges following the incident. The students, aged 14 to 16, were charged in the state’s juvenile justice system, Howard Police said.