Indiana high school withholds diploma after student's surprise speech

By The Associated Press

06.11.02

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WHITING, Ind. — Officials at Whiting High School refused to give the senior class salutatorian her diploma after she deviated from her prepared speech and gave teachers frivolous awards during the ceremony.

Caitlin Mills-Groninger, 18, presented her approved speech during graduation ceremonies June 9, asking her classmates to denounce discrimination and build a civil society.

Mills-Groninger then took a lighter tone, though, as she called 13 teachers by name and presented them with fanciful awards. The awards included "Trapped in the '80s," "Sesame Street Critic," "Shakespearian Occultist of the Year" and "Pain in the Asymtote."

An asymtote is a mathematical term. The award was given to a math teacher.

"Teachers have always been giving us awards, and I say that turnabout is fair play. I will now present, with much gratitude and affection, awards to the teachers, to whom we owe so much," she told classmates during the ceremony.

But the awards stunned school administrators, who quietly pulled Mills-Groninger's diploma and replaced it with a letter asking her parents to schedule a meeting with school officials. The letter was presented to the honors student instead of a diploma.

Principal Dirk Flick said student privacy laws prevent him from discussing the incident.

Tim Mills-Groninger said his daughter designed the awards to be playful and express gratitude toward some of her favorite instructors. Several teachers thanked her after the graduation ceremony, he said.

"As far as I can tell this was an illegal action on the part of Whiting High School. This was prior restraint of free speech," he said. "Clearly, she can't yell fire in a crowded auditorium, but she can express an opinion."

Tim Mills-Groninger said he had not yet scheduled a meeting.

The tradition of requiring students to submit graduation speeches for approval dates back 30 to 40 years.

The executive director of the Indiana Civil Liberties Union said Whiting school officials should lighten up.

"It sounds to me like the school system has pulled out a sledge hammer to apply a tack," John Krull said. "I don't see that the parents have to meet (with school officials). Now, whether that's a good step to take, that's another issue."