Gluten-free students at BGA: you love them or you hate them, but you certainly know them. You may recall an incident earlier this year in which several gluten-free students found themselves violently ill after a mix-up yielded the gluten-free pasta actually quite gluten-full. While this was a simple mistake, the latest attack on BGA’s gluten-free students was anything but accidental. I spoke to the bunch who get their daily, “Backdoor Special,” to get some insight on this latest incident.
“I was just sitting there, minding my own business, when suddenly I was attacked,” said Graci Semptimphelter, holding back tears. “We all wait in the back of the lunchroom for our food to be brought to us every day, and I guess some people found out. Libby McConnell, Ryan Cross, Ansleigh Hylton, Mary Courtney Finn, Sydney Carroll and I were all standing there when a mass of people started throwing whole wheat bread at us. It was… horrible… heinous. I’ve never experienced anything like it.” Graci as well as other students described the incident as one in which 10-15 students surrounded the group and began throwing bread (containing gluten) at the students with vitriol. While no one was physically hurt, the altercation left behind scars deeper than the physical kind.
“It just begs the question, which students are being valued?” argued Mary Courtney. “I mean, I knew there was strong anti-gluten free sentiment at this school, but never to this degree.” I write this article from Ms. Pickett’s office, where the gluten-free students had gathered to speak about the traumatic incident. Libby and Mary Courtney, holding each other, had similar views on the event. Libby added, “I’ve never felt so violated in my life. I never want to relive those moments.”
The suspects are still currently at large, although many have suspected students who have openly spoken out against gluten-free classmates. The Upper School Administration briefly commented on the matter, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the students and their families. Any injustice against one BGA student is an injustice against all of us, and we will continue to investigate the incident.” Mr. Montgomery added that this issue hits close to home for him, as he “has a 4th cousin twice removed who is gluten intolerant.”
As a gluten-free student, I can only speak from personal experience. However, as I sat in Ms. Pickett’s office watching Ryan curled up in a ball on the floor, Ainsleigh sobbing, and Mary Coutrney and Libby just trying to keep it together, I was struck by just how awful the incident truly was. These students attacked society’s most defenseless: the ones who could be killed by a doughnut, sandwich, or even a Ritz cracker. This attack wasn’t just against gluten-free students; it was against every student who has ever felt like they didn’t belong. My hope is that these students are held accountable and made to see the true evil of their actions. While our immune systems may have robbed us of gluten, it’s clear that no one can steal our spirit.
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