Another issue is one of race. The expelled student is black, as is the victim of the assault. The upperclassmen were white. The grandmother said Epstein was told by a Righetti teacher, before the investigation, that her grandson would end up taking the fall in this case, and the other boys would be slapped on the wrist. The victim's father said he did not know if race played a part in this case, but says he has seen institutional racism first hand at both Righetti and Orcutt Junior High School.
Color scares the hell out of people.
That's not a myth, that's a fact. He said teachers and administrators in this area don't have much experience with race issues, with only a few blacks in the area. The aftermath Whether race or school status played a part in either the investigation or the outcome, Epstein and the grandparents do not know. But based on what they feel are shortcomings in the investigation and subsequent hearings, they have filed for an appeal with the County Education Office. The Righetti victim's father, too, has lingering concerns.