By BRIAN MURPHY
Managing Editor

The second generation of the “hot list,” an anonymous document listing someone’s idea of the school’s Top 20 students, resurfaced during Period One this morning.

The original list was published in May 2010, and its authorship remains a mystery.

Unlike the first “hot list,” two documents were published this time under the title – one ranking girls, the other ranking boys. Each was found taped to the wall in the student bathrooms near the fitness room, the girls’ ranking in the boys’ room and the boys’ ranking in the girls’ bathroom.

“I really don’t care,” said senior and “hot list” member Emil Gombos. “It was in Comic Sans, so it’s not to be taken seriously.”

The lists, in fact, were in 18-point Comic Sans.

The girls’ list contained the named of 20 students from a variety of grades. The boys’, although numbered from 1 to 20, contained 19 students, omitting the number 12.

Principal James Gleason, who was unable to respond to an interview request in time for tonight’s deadline, made an announcement during the beginning of Period Two, pointing to the lists’ foolishness and potential for being considered sexual harassment. Gleason agreed to be  interviewed tomorrow concerning the new “hot list.”

Senior Frank Garruzzo, another male “hot list” member, saw a potential violation of new HIB legislation.

“They did technically bully me, but I don’t care,” Garruzzo said.

According to new state Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) legislation that took effect at the beginning of this school year, the “hot list” is close to the definition of HIB, however it is open to interpretation by the administration.

“[HIB] means any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as … any distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property,” the document says.

[Read the full document here]

The document also defines HIB as something that “will have the effect of harming a student,” “has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in …t he orderly operation of the school.”

Noting that this is not an “ugly list,” Gombos said that, “it is bullying to the people who aren’t on the lists.”

“A lot of it is just to get a reaction,” said senior Carly Ferreira. “As a girl, I don’t see it as sexual harassment.”

After the first “hot list” was published in 2010, Gleason did not pursue the author or a punishment of any kind.

Later today, a third, more satirical list surfaced.

Titled the “hat list,” the document ranked different headwear according to an unknown algorithm. Topping the list was “Fedora,” followed by “Baseball,” “Top Hat” and “Visor.”

The “hat list” ranked “Razhon” as number 20, presumably a reference to Razhon Forbes, a graduate of the Class of 2010 who was ranked first on the original 2010 “hot list.”

Editor’s Note: The Inkblot is withholding the names contained on the “hot lists” to protect the privacy of those unwillingly listed.