CHSAA issues new statement clarifying role in Lutheran racism allegations, ongoing investigation

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) is clarifying its bylaws and role in an ongoing investigation into alleged racism by members of the Lutheran High School community.

According to CHSAA, the organization has spent the last week speaking with administrators from schools and districts that were involved in reported incidents of racism, including reports first brought to KRDO13 by Sand Creek and Rampart High School.

RELATED COVERAGE: Sand Creek High School students allege racism from Lutheran High School students

CHSAA says it has received reports of incidents that happened both this school year and last, with first-hand accounts from students and others. CHSAA says its office is now evaluating the claims against CHSAA bylaws, and says any decisions will be made on based off of that review.

CHSAA also reiterated its bylaws in the statement, saying it wanted to restate what is expected at events. They say they expect every member of CHSAA to abide by the rules:

• "Schools whose teams are participating are responsible for the conduct of their coaches, players and spectators (Bylaw 2270.1).
• Host schools have a duty 'to take every possible measure to assure courteous, friendly, and fair treatment to visiting players, school officials, fans, and game officials' (Bylaw 2250).
• Spectators whose behavior is unacceptable are to be warned, removed if it continues, or ejected immediately if it is serious enough. Contest officials may also remove fans (Bylaw 2240.1).
• Host schools must notify CHSAA, their league and the individual in writing of any ejection. Anyone ejected is suspended for at least one contest, and anyone removed or ejected more than once in a school year is barred from high school events for the rest of that year (Bylaw 2240.2).
• At neutral sites, each school’s designated on-site administrator is responsible for managing its own spectators (Bylaws 2240 and 2260)."

CHSAA's statement says they are clarifying their role, which is not as an investigative agency but to review findings and determine whether bylaws were violated.

CHSAA's full statement:

Over the past week, CHSAA has spoken with administrators from each of the member schools and school districts involved in reported incidents of racism, including recently reported incidents that are alleged to have happened last school year. We have also received first-hand accounts that those schools gathered from their own students and others, both through conversations and in written reports.

With that information in hand, our office is now evaluating it against CHSAA bylaws, including the standards they set for conduct consistent with our mission and core values. Any decisions will be based on that review.

It is important to be clear about roles. CHSAA is not an investigative agency. Our member schools investigate matters involving their own students and communities and report their findings to us. CHSAA’s role is to review those findings and determine whether our membership’s bylaws have been violated.

While that review continues, we want to reiterate to every member school what is expected at our events. This is about more than any single incident, and it requires more than responding to individual reports. As an educationally based organization, CHSAA’s first responsibility is to foster environments where every student, coach and fan is safe and treated with dignity and respect. Every member school shares that responsibility, and our bylaws set clear expectations for every contest:

• Schools whose teams are participating are responsible for the conduct of their coaches, players and spectators (Bylaw 2270.1).
• Host schools have a duty “to take every possible measure to assure courteous, friendly, and fair treatment to visiting players, school officials, fans, and game officials” (Bylaw 2250).
• Spectators whose behavior is unacceptable are to be warned, removed if it continues, or ejected immediately if it is serious enough. Contest officials may also remove fans (Bylaw 2240.1).
• Host schools must notify CHSAA, their league and the individual in writing of any ejection. Anyone ejected is suspended for at least one contest, and anyone removed or ejected more than once in a school year is barred from high school events for the rest of that year (Bylaw 2240.2).
• At neutral sites, each school’s designated on-site administrator is responsible for managing its own spectators (Bylaws 2240 and 2260).

We expect every member school to meet these responsibilities at every event. CHSAA’s Sporting Behavior Manual provides additional guidance for administrators and coaches.

Meeting this standard requires a true partnership between CHSAA and our member schools, and our commitment to that partnership is absolute."

More information can be found on CHSAA's website.

Read more of our coverage of recent allegations against Lutheran High School here.