May 21, 2004
Saguaro High School’s final edition of the Sabercat newspaper was pulled from school stands just days after it ran a photo of a student wearing a crooked cap.
More than 1,200 papers were distributed directly to students on May 7, with a photo of next year’s sports editors: Marlon Morgan, 17, a junior, and an unidentified white student wearing a hat crookedly on his head, which is against school rules.
An extra 200 papers were removed from school stands May 10 after the administration discovered the photo.
The decision follows a March 5 incident that led to the arrest of Morgan when he refused to leave campus after being ordered to turn his crooked cap to the front. Morgan, who is black, said white students with him were not told to straighten their caps at the time.
Scottsdale Unified School District spokesman Tom Herrmann said the student in the photo was not disciplined — but added students are not disciplined for a dress code violation unless they violate other rules by refusing to turn the cap straight.
Mo rgan could not be reached for comment.
Newspaper and yearbook adviser Michelle Tsacoumangos said the photo was "just an innocent picture of our staff members."
Last week, the yearbook was not distributed the usual two days early for students in yearbook class, after principal Ty Timbrooks realized it also had not been reviewed.
The yearbook, which also included photos of students wearing their hats crookedly and one distant shot of two girls off-campus in bikinis, was released in time for the May 20 signing party.
Herrmann said the yearbook was not pulled because it would be a greater expense to fix, and because it is a valuable keepsake for students.
