Residents Voice Concern, Indifference Over 'Harlem Shake' Incident

Avon Lake High School officials said disciplinary action would be handed down to several members of the boys' baseball team who posted a vulgar "Harlem Shake" video on YouTube last week.

The 30-second video opens with about a dozen members of the team readying for play, while one dressed student simulates a sex act on a trash can. After approximately 15 seconds, the entire team is featured dancing, some in compromising positions and some simply dancing. 

The video was taken down March 11 as soon as the school was notified.

Several Patch readers took to the comment boards to either support or chastise the risque video.

Here's what they had to say:

Mitch Eichler:

Shame on them for having fun and disgracing the always golden Avon Lake High School by posting a video of semi-inappropriate dancing as teenagers! High school dances are so much more chivalrous and no adult has ever engaged in anything half as "offensive." Expel them from the school and let them get into actual trouble! Can you sense the sarcasm dripping there? Give me a break...actually, give them a break.

AvonLakerrrr:

I am a parent here and I saw the video. I understand why Patch did not post it. While it certainly looked like fun and games and it might have been suitable for these kids "private collection" it had no business on a public website. Had that been my child I would have been so embarrassed. Kids riding each other like cowboys with your sons "cheeks" showing is not what you need being shown on the internet. This article doesn't begin to describe the locker room antics I saw.

And I won't even start with what they were doing with the baseball bats. Harmless fun? Yes it was, but not all harmless fun is meant to be broadcast for anyone to see. Trust me, these boys parents did not want to see the full video.

Benjamin Troyer:

As an Avon lake grad, I'm literally repulsed that my alma mater has no ability to take a joke. You can look up Harlem shake videos for hours; there's nothing offensive about them, it's just a trend. But of course, when you have a bunch of stuffy old bureaucrats who don't deal with students in a daily basis, you get idiotic decisions like this. Students don't check their rights to free expression at the door. The administration would be wise to remember that.

Kimber Malloy:

We did that stuff and more in school and dances, just didn't have cell phones or cams to tape; and I went to an all girls Catholic school! Relax people-Steubenville has a problem, this is nothing. Laugh sometimes!