THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 6, 1995 TAG: 9510060044
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH OXHORN, HIGH SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
GUILTY. INNOCENT. A certain conviction.
In every class at Greenbrier Christian Academy, this was the topic of discussion Tuesday as students, along with the rest of the world, awaited the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial.
At lunch, just 20 minutes before the 1 p.m. verdict was due, anticipation reached its height. Students made their way into the lunchroom armed with miniature televisions, cellular phones for calling home and plenty of opinions. Food was the last thing on their minds.
Groups gathered around televisions hoping to catch a glimpse of the action. Most just saw a blurry image; the lunchroom was too loud for the televisions to be heard.
At 12:55 p.m., a radio was brought in. Almost immediately the lunchroom fell silent. Anyone who dared to speak was quickly quieted by those nearby. As the voice of Judge Ito warned those in the Los Angeles courtroom to remain quiet, it seemed as if he were warning the students in this Chesapeake lunchroom as well.
It was so quiet that when the words ``not guilty'' were spoken, they seemed to echo off the lunchroom walls. Then cheers erupted. Girls hugged each other. People talked non-stop. One student shouted, ``Judge Ito stinks.'' Others breathed a sigh of relief for their hero.
Some seemed to be in a state of shock.
``My mouth dropped when I heard it,'' said senior Michelle Hines.
``I thought they had misread the verdict,'' said senior Matt Glaize.
Other students were happy to hear that the defense had won.
``I didn't think he was guilty,'' said sophomore Pamela Mann. ``He didn't have enough time to kill them.''
``I'm glad that an American hero wasn't convicted of a crime,'' said senior Mike Saner.
Still others had no opinion at all.
``I really don't care,'' said junior Rick Haislip.
No matter what opinions they had, the high school students at Greenbrier Christian sensed that they had experienced a moment that they would never forget.
``We will remember this when we get older,'' Michelle said. ``I will always remember that I was in the lunchroom when I heard the verdict.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Elizabeth Oxhorn is a senior at Greenbrier Christian Academy.
by CNB