Fight results in 18 student suspensions

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A brawl at a Tulsa high school has resulted in 18 students being suspended. The fight occurred at the Central High School cafeteria last week. <br><br>The trouble began when two groups

Friday, March 3rd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- A brawl at a Tulsa high school has resulted in 18 students being suspended. The fight occurred at the Central High School cafeteria last week.

The trouble began when two groups of students fought at Central and were instructed not to come back to school until parent conferences could be scheduled, officials said.

Some of the students arrived the following day with their parents as instructed. The others showed up alone, Principal Nilda Reyes has said. The two groups met in the cafeteria and started fighting, and some parents joined in, Reyes said.

Pepper spray had to be used to help break up the fight.

Although 35 students were involved in the brawl, only 18 will be suspended, said John Hamill, a Tulsa Public Schools spokesman. "There were some kids caught up in it who were not responsible," Hamill said. "They happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, through no fault of their own."

The other students face a suspension of from three days to one year, although alternative schools will be an option, Hamill said.