The walkout
More than 200 students at Piner Junior Senior High School in Santa Rosa just staged a massive walkout. The vibes are off on campus after the school’s football captain posted “Free the Cornell 7” on Instagram earlier this month.
For context, that phrase refers to seven students accused of gang raping a Cornell University student back in 2024. The walkout happened because students feel the school isn’t holding the captain accountable for his post, which they lowkey find unacceptable.
The fallout
It’s giving major confusion regarding the school’s response. While one parent of a cheerleader shared that the captain was excluded from a team dinner, there’s been zero clarity on whether he faced any actual disciplinary action.
On top of the social drama, the Piner Prospectors have officially forfeited their Saturday game against Archie Williams High School. Head coach Adam Rosenstein told The Press Democrat that the team only had five healthy linemen left. It’s a huge L for the program, which is now sitting at 2-4 overall this season.
Why it matters
This isn't happening in a vacuum. Protests surrounding the Cornell rape case have been popping up in cities like LA, Seattle, and Philadelphia, with people accusing the university of botching its investigation. At Piner, the student body is making it clear they are watching how school officials handle accountability when these national issues hit their front door. The real tea is that the school’s silence on potential discipline is only fueling more frustration among students.
