Inclusiveness forever; inequity never

By Robert F. Kanaby, NFHS Executive Director, and Ron Laird, NFHS President

The NFHS and its members take every opportunity to espouse the values and lessons that are continually learned through participation in interscholastic programs, but those lessons should never come at the expense of an individual.

In high school activities, there is an inclusiveness that incorporates all facets of the educational community, including students, school administrators, activities directors, coaches, parents and involved individuals. However, at the end of the fall season, a sequence of unwarranted actions belied that inclusiveness and unfortunately negatively affected a Maine cross country runner.

The New England Cross Country Championships were held November 10, 2007, in Cumberland, Maine. A great day of friendly competition was primed, but a dark cloud soon cast its shadow.

According to a Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram report, Lewiston (Maine) High School senior runner Mohamed Noor, the Maine Principals' Association Class A champion and a Somalia native, had sand thrown in his eyes by an unidentified man before and during the race.

Noor's eyes were red, had a "burning sensation" and required medical care in an ambulance immediately after the event and later at a local medical center.

The first occurrence took place just before the race started. A man tossed what appeared to be a sandy substance into Noor's eyes.

Despite the attack, Noor still started the 3.1-mile race and actually led the other 270 New England runners for the first quarter-mile.

But as the leading pack entered a wooded area, Noor was once again blinded by a sandy dirt substance hurled by an individual he believes was the same man from the beginning of the race. He finished in 124th place.

These incredibly heinous acts upon a student-athlete, who did no wrong and was merely running in an interscholastic event in which he excels, have no place in high school sports and activities, or anywhere else, for that matter.

The NFHS firmly believes that interscholastic participation develops good citizenship and healthy lifestyles along with a sense of fairness. However, those actions taken against Noor - those uncalled for and universally wrong in nature - attempt to undermine those fundamental and closely held beliefs.

As part of an education-based community that strives for equitable opportunities in the deepest sense, we have a responsibility to protect all students. This seems to be a very simple concept (which it is), but emphasis should always be placed on the comprehensiveness of including and looking out for each other.

It is unknown for sure what the man's motives were, but however the situation is regarded, those motives clearly are not justified.

School-based athletics and activities are unique to the United States, and people from around the world are familiar with the benefits that can be derived from these authentic learning experiences.
Participation in different sports and fine arts activities correlates with future successes, but an attack such as this attempts to diminish the important values of sportsmanship, teamwork, benevolence, discipline and good citizenship that characterize this system.

About 15 years ago in Connecticut, members of a cross country team were brutally attacked by runners and students from an opposing school. And now lightning has struck again.

These actions go against everything that interscholastic activities and basic human rights stand for and defend.

The NFHS and its national membership of state associations and their member high schools do not tolerate any of these actions. As such, we must challenge ourselves, as a unified group of people that strives toward the same goals of achievement, proper stewardship and equitable settings, to never let these types of incidents occur again.

When it comes to the well-being of student-athletes, administrators and others involved with athletic and activity programs, we must do everything possible to safeguard each other and to include each other in our thoughts.

Although these scenarios are certainly anomalies in the broad scope of interscholastic events, it does not mean they will never happen again. That is why it is so important that we constantly remind ourselves of our missions and principles. These types of actions are completely unacceptable and inexcusable, as the welfare of everyone should always be of utmost importance.