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Elite Upper West Side school wrestles with punishment for 'xenophobic' border patrol prank
By
Jessica Gould
Published May 8, 2025
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By
Jessica Gould
Published May 8, 2025
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New details have emerged about the senior prank at a prestigious Upper West Side all-boys school last week, with teachers telling Gothamist that pranksters at a mock border patrol checkpoint had underclassmen fill out fake naturalization papers, some of whom were deemed “un-American” and put in zip ties.
Three teachers at the Collegiate School told Gothamist that seniors also displayed lewd photos of a former administrator, “planted” fake cocaine on some students, and placed a copy of President Donald Trump’s “Art of the Deal” on a liberal teacher’s desk. The pranksters hired a mariachi band that played outside the school entrance, creating a bizarre scene.
The emerging scope of the prank came as educators wrestled with how to discipline participants. Teachers who spoke to Gothamist on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the press argued that the universities that accepted seniors who staged the prank should learn of their roles in the incidents, which they called racist, xenophobic and misogynistic. One teacher lamented that the all-boys school’s “brotherhood” culture had made seniors close ranks and contributed to a lack of accountability.
Administrators at Collegiate and a lawyer for the school have not responded to multiple requests for comment.
In an email to staff on Monday obtained by Gothamist, head of upper school Andrew Prince said some of the seniors’ celebratory events had been canceled as a result of the prank, including a bowling trip and visit to a go-kart course.
“This is not the only set of steps we are taking as we continue to follow up with the grade as a whole and with individuals in the class,” he said, adding that the school's top official was speaking with them about “the real harm that was caused.”
Prince also wrote that he was working with seniors on an apology to be read to students.
“We are still trying to find some different and meaningful ways to infuse joy into that last week of school for the seniors, particularly for students who did not take part in problematic behaviors, while engineering opportunities for those who did take part to further take responsibility and make amends,” he said.
On Saturday, Gothamist exclusively revealed the prank at the school, where tuition costs $65,900. Senior Prank Day is a long-standing tradition at Collegiate, which counts John F. Kennedy Jr. among its list of famous alums. The private school dates back to the 1600s and is among the oldest in the nation.
A mariachi band played outside the entrance to the prestigious school during the prank last week.
Jessica Gould
In an email to the school community last week, Head of School Bodie Brizendine said the prank day had been approved with a Fourth of July theme, but “it unfortunately strayed from that plan.” She acknowledged that several incidents were “inappropriate, humiliating and hurtful,” adding that they “do not reflect who we are as a school.”
“We have an excellent senior class,” she said. “We regret that this ‘prank’ took the turn that it did. Every member of our community is valued and important to us.”
One teacher believed the prank did not satirize or mock the Trump administration’s agenda, but instead embraced the right’s immigration and cultural politics. Another teacher cautioned that it was difficult to generalize about intent when more than a dozen pranksters participated.
On its website, the school states it’s committed to diversity, equity and belonging through a robust financial aid program.
But teachers said the prank, which featured a border patrol checkpoint with a cardboard booth in the school's lobby, was divisive. There, seniors asked underclassmen for their “papers” and zip tied students who were deemed un-American, sources said. Some middle school students arrived at their first class with zip ties still on their wrists, one teacher said.
Other students had fake cocaine placed in their backpacks, resulting in “arrests” at the fake border, the sources said. Texan and American flags adorned the lobby while a live mariachi band played outside the entrance. Two teachers of color reported arriving at work to find caution tape on their desks, according to sources. Trump’s “The Art of the Deal” was placed in the school library and on the desk of a teacher with a reputation as a liberal, the sources said.
They also said a suggestive photograph featuring a headshot of a former female administrator who is suing the school for gender discrimination had been edited onto the body of a lingerie model and hung outside her old office.
Teachers who spoke to Gothamist said they were stunned that the school hasn’t taken a stronger stance condemning the incident, and meting out consequences to the 15 or so seniors who they say were most active, out of the class of just over 50.
One teacher said administrators needed to make clear the prank was racist and unacceptable. That teacher felt women and people of color were too often treated like second-class citizens in the all-boys school. The teacher said the prank's orchestrators should all be identified, and the colleges they’re set to attend should be alerted to the incident.
The teacher insisted the episode should not be swept under the rug.
Tagged
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manhattan
Jessica Gould
Jessica is the education reporter for WNYC and Gothamist. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Jessica reported on the shutdown and reopening of the nation’s largest school system, highlighting the unprecedented impacts on learning, health and mental health for students, staff and families. Got a tip? Email [email protected]
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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