Bethany Koval, 16-year-old Israeli Jew, said on Twitter that she had been reprimanded for a tweet directed at Israel.
FAIR LAWN - A Fair Lawn High School student who tweeted anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian statements claims school administrators reprimanded her and accused her of bullying.
Bethany Koval, a 16-year-old Israeli Jew, said on Twitter that she had been reprimanded for a tweet directed at Israel and questioned about pro-Palestine comments she had made on social media.
She said administrators were particularly interested in a Dec. 27 tweet involving a student who had unfollowed her on Twitter because of her political views. Koval tweeted to a friend she would name the student in a private message.
"Principal just called me down," Koval tweeted Wednesday. "I'm about to be exposed for being anti-Israel. Pray for me."
Moments later the student tweeted that the administrators had threatened to "file a bullying case against me."
"It's against state law to express unpopular political views on the Internet, now," she tweeted.
Principal just called me down. I'm about to be exposed for being anti-Israel. Pray for me.
-- benny (@bendykoval) January 6, 2016
Fair Lawn High School Principal James Marcella told the New York Times that the issue has been referred to the district superintendent, Bruce Watson.
NJ Advance Media reached out to Watson, but was told he was not available for comment.
Later, however, the superintendent released a statement that indicated the matter began as a harassment, intimidation and bullying complaint.
"The investigation is focused solely on the factors we are required to apply by law and not upon any political opinions expressed by any pupils," Watson said in a statement.
On Wednesday the student posted three audio clips to Twitter that she said contained parts of her conversation with an administrator she identified as Frank Guadagnino.
I recorded the interaction, because my ass KNEW my rights were about to be violated. Posting clips now.
-- benny (@bendykoval) January 6, 2016
In one recording, the administrator can be heard telling Koval that the state could determine that she had committed an act of bullying for the tweet she sent that referred to a fellow student who unfollowed her as "that pro-Israel girl from my school."
On another recording Koval tells the administrator that she believes her tweets about Israel were "controversial" but not "problematic."
"Well that's your interpretation," the administrator says on the recording. "There's a state law that might interpret it differently."
New Jersey's harassment, intimidation and bullying laws are among the toughest in the country. After the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, the state adopted the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. The law provides stiff penalties for educators who do not address bullying in their schools.
Apparently a "smug attitude" is trying not to burst into tears. Do you know how bad a HIB report looks? pic.twitter.com/bqNLUmSc6b
-- benny (@bendykoval) January 6, 2016
i'm feelin' myself but my camera isn't feelin' me back :-( pic.twitter.com/bnoRfk5r9r
-- benny (@bendykoval) January 1, 2016
Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
