Swastikas, racist and homophobic Wi-Fi hotspot names pop up on phones during school assembly

Racist, homophobic Wi-Fi hotspot names, including swastikas, popped up on hundreds of student cellphones during Glacier Peak High School’s winter pep assembly Thursday, according to the Snohomish School District.

The district’s superintendent said in an email Thursday evening that two students involved had been identified and “disciplined according to district policy, guided by the seriousness of their actions.”

KIRO 7 asked how the students were disciplined, but didn’t immediately hear back from the school district that said it’s now working with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office to determine if any other students were involved.

Isaac Ellison, a junior at Glacier Peak High School, said students were about 30 minutes into their winter pep assembly when students started receiving notifications on their phones of available hotspots with swastikas, racist and homophobic names.

Ellison said he didn’t immediately realize what was going on but said his principal grabbed the microphone at the assembly, mentioned school safety and abruptly ended the assembly.

“Everyone started freaking out,” said Ellison. “Thought there could’ve been an active shooter on campus.”

Ellison told KIRO 7 he later realized what happened while walking to class.

“I didn’t think (the messages) were funny at all,” said Ellison.

The school district said the two students involved were at the assembly.

Deputies said it’s not yet clear how the students were able to send out the long list of network hotspot names. The school district said the high school’s Wi-Fi network was not hacked.

“Infuriated more than disgusted because as a father, you know, you want to do everything you can to protect your kids,” said parent Terry Hollimon.

KIRO 7 spoke with parents who were upset, but not surprised by what happened.

“I feel like this is kind of how things have been at this school,” said parent Michelle Renschler.

Michelle Renschler said she once posted online about kids at Glacier Peak High School who flew confederate flags and then received messages from one of those kids.

She shared one message with KIRO 7 that read in part, “the rednecks at this school don’t take no (expletive).”

“It made me sick,” said Renschler.

“I hear white kids say the N-word all the time, could be an offensive way, such like that, which is kind of frustrating,” said Ellison.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said its IT team is now investigating.

The high school said in a letter to parents that its working on plans “to address threatening and discriminatory behaviors.”

“It was scary, and to me, it borders on the line of criminal,” said Hollimon.

By Michael Spears, KIRO 7