California IN BRIEF : ATHERTON : School Fight Blamed on Racial Tensions

Apparent racial problems exploded into a brawl at Menlo-Atherton High School. The campus fight was broken up by 50 officers from several law enforcement agencies. Eight students and two adults were arrested, but no one was reported injured. The fight was mostly between a group of black students and a group of Pacific Islanders who had been engaged in a war of words for weeks at the school, said Atherton police Sgt. George Carr. “Apparently some family members also got involved,” Carr said. “There were some punches thrown but no real injuries.” Carr said some students might face assault and battery charges. Principal Joyce Rosentiel told students over a public address system that classes would continue as usual. School administrators refused to comment on the incident.