Community reacts to disturbing student post on Twitter

A racial, homophobic slur and a screen grab that could change the conversation at Sussex Technical High School.

It wasn't what anyone expected to see with a simple twitter search on Wednesday, yet there it was, and students like Brie Hagen weren't about to stay silent.

"It was very shocking at first, it’s also pretty disturbing that somebody would say that about a fellow student regardless of what context it’s in," Hagen continues, "I feel like no student especially from Sussex Tech should be using that sort of language towards another student."

Hagen wasn't the only one disturbed by the image that references a student's gender and sexual orientation in a derogatory way. Other community members like LeKarah Howell, who are getting wind of the post, are worried too.

"I was very disturbed and hurt that a fellow student can say that about another one and just because they're a minority and a homosexual, I don't think kids go to school knowing that they're going to be a target," explains Howell.

Hagen tells 47 ABC that she takes pride in her school and that this post, this type of behavior is not a reflection of the community. Nor is it representative of the thoughts or feelings of the majority of students at Sussex Tech.

"I want to make it clear that our school is not that. That’s not a representation of what we are."

That's why Hagen thinks this action should be met with consequences.

"From this point on, I think that our administration and basically the adults at our school need to say something about this and address it now before other people think it’s okay to say things like that."

Howell agrees, saying, "I would like to see consequences done because if kids continue to go along with anything that's posted on social media that's hurtful, they're just going to continue doing it knowing there's no consequences for it and it's just not right. There needs to be something done."

47 ABC did reach out to the Sussex Tech principal, Dr. John Demby, but he tells 47 ABC there will be no comment or statement regarding this post. We also made calls to the Sussex Tech school board but never received calls back.

47 ABC did do a search on Sussex Tech's website and found that the post would fall under the definition of cyber-bullying. But while the policies and investigative procedures are clear, the punishment is not.