Echo is continuing to investigate the recent incidents at Park, both alleged and confirmed, and will continue to follow events as more information becomes available.

Echo’s Maggie Bahnson, Raphy Gendler, Hannah Leff, Sam Orloff, Devin Raynor, D’aviyan Robinson and Annabella Strathman contributed to this report along with reporters Mimi Fhima, Sumaya Mohamed and Sophie Yarosh.

Student Advocate Chris Weaver said he felt, in light of recent events, many Park students don’t feel safe while at school.

“My take away from all the students (at the Nov. 15 C350 meeting) was that…the underlying issue is the lack of a feeling of safety,” Weaver said.

The freshman involved in the alleged incident Nov. 14, where her hijab was pulled off, said she doesn’t feel comfortable being near the senior allegedly involved in the incident.

“I don’t like walking in the hallways,” the freshman said. “I see a group of (the senior’s) friends there and I take the longer route just to get to class because I don’t want to go by them.”

According to the senior involved in the alleged incident, he said he hopes conversations do not turn physical and students are able to communicate non-violently.

“I just hope that people don’t take it too far and take it to a physical level. I hope that there are no more fights, no more GLCs running around the hallways. Just peaceful talks,” the senior said.

Maimun Husen, mother of freshman Hafza Da’ud, said she feels concerned for her daughter’s security after hearing about the alleged incident.

“My daughter told me that her best friend’s hijab was removed from her. I’m worried for my daughter because if it happened to one person already, it can happen to anyone. This makes me worried because it’s bullying and that’s unacceptable,” Husen said.

Principal Scott Meyers said he believes school should be a comfortable, safe environment for people to make mistakes and learn from them.

“We are hoping, just like we are hoping our classrooms are a mistake friendly environment, (school is) a place where we can learn from things that we’ve done,” Meyers said.

Meyers said he wants to emphasize some people feel uncomfortable, which can be associated with feeling unsafe.

“For some people, it’s discomfort, and that discomfort is being named as a lack of safety, and that’s one differentiation that I’d want to make for sure, to say ‘if we’re uncomfortable right now, that can be a productive thing,’” Meyers said.

Sophomore Ainee Mohamud said, after recent incidents at the school, she worries about her safety in the building.

“What has been happening, like getting people’s hijabs taken off and all that crazy stuff, I’m afraid that is going to happen to me,” Mohamud said.

In an email sent to parents district-wide Nov. 16, Superintendent Rob Metz said St. Louis Park schools are safe communities.

“We are proud to provide a safe and productive space to ensure these open conversations and support for all students,” Metz said in the email.

German teacher Shari Fox said while she understands students’ concerns, she also knows teachers will continue to ensure student safety.

“All the teachers stand together in their resolve to keep you safe and to make sure that we don’t get sucked into a cycle of hateful words and actions,” Fox said. “We’re all going to do everything we can to keep this a safe place and I don’t think it has become unsafe. But like I said, I totally understand feeling unsafe, considering what is going on in this country.”

Junior Sadia Omar said she no longer feels safe at school after the alleged incident.

“I’m scared. I don’t feel safe here anymore. I don’t think that I can look at people the same way that I used to,” Omar said. Knowing that there are people out there who are judging you like that without you even knowing. As you’re walking down the hall, they’re just commenting ‘Oh look at that girl. She’s wearing a hijab.’”

Weaver said he recognizes students’ feelings and realizes their fears are valid.

“I understand why students of color, and our Somali Muslim students specifically, feel scared,” Weaver said. “They feel worried about what’s going on, because you hear something that terrible is happening, you’re wondering ‘is it me next?’”

Despite recent events, sophomore Ridwan Aden said she feels safe in the building and does not feel personally threatened.

“I do (feel safe at school) because I don’t have anything to be afraid of. I don’t see any harm or threat against me,” Aden said.

Husen said her daughter feels safe at school now, but said she worries about how her daughter will feel in the future.

“She does feel safe but I’m not sure if she will in the future. If the school can’t do anything about students and their behavior then students will do whatever they want, even if it is bad,” Husen said.

In a recorded phone message sent to parents Nov. 15, Meyers said Park is safe for its students.

“Please know that our students are safe, our students, teachers and staff are respected, and together we will all learn, grow and understand our future,” Meyers said in the message.

Weaver said he hopes others address these issues and ensure students of color and students involved in recent alleged incidents feel welcomed and safe.

“There hasn’t been that response of even just a message of ‘we love you,’ or ‘we want you here,’” Weaver said. “As a parent of a student of color in this district, I’m not happy about it. I’m not happy about it because there needs to be more action taken, and aside from where you fall politically, there still needs to be a message of love and acceptance.”

Meyers said administration is attempting to keep families aware about what is occurring in school.

“We are doing our best to support both students and we are trying to maintain contact with both students as well as their families to make sure that we’re getting all the information we need about what the students need to be here and be present,” Meyers said.

Metz said when tension settles, administration will communicate and plan for the future.

“Once we have an opportunity to have some normal days, we’ll sit down and figure out steps going forward. I don’t think this is going to be a short-term experience,” Metz said. “The good news for St. Louis Park is we already have a lot of things in place, we have a long history of diversity of all kinds and working very well together.”

Assistant principal Kari Schwietering said she hopes members of the school feel secure in the building at all times and feel comfortable expressing themselves freely.

“St. Louis Park students are truly loved,” Schwietering said. “I want people to feel safe and want to be here and show up here as their true selves and not as anybody different.”