Former Hartland Student Files Lawsuit Against School District for Racist Harassment

Former Hartland High School student Tatayana Vanderlaan has filed a lawsuit against the Hartland Consolidated School District and three district administrators, claiming she was subject to relentless and cruel racism while she attended the school. Vanderlaan, who is Black, alleges that white schoolmates directed racial slurs at her, including the N-word, and that administrators failed to address the behavior, even as it escalated.

Vanderlaan's lawsuit describes repeated racism directed at her from the time she first entered Hartland High in 2019. Students openly discussed lynching her, with one student saying, "There goes Tatayana, we should lynch her," and laughing. The suit also describes how Vanderlaan received racist text messages and comments over social media platforms, especially when classes moved online during the pandemic. A group of students taunted her for wearing a wig, saying she wore it to cover "ugly Negro hair." Vanderlaan's suit alleges that a substitute teacher who observed the behavior simply responded by telling the students "that's enough."

According to Vanderlaan's suit, four students eventually faced charges related to the harassment in Livingston County. Two entered into a plea deal, one was tried in juvenile court, and the outcome of the fourth case is unclear.

Vanderlaan's lawsuit also alleges that the barrage of racist harassment left her so distraught that she frequently missed school during her senior year, causing her grades to fall and her college plans to change.

Vanderlaan is seeking accountability from the school district and is asking for financial compensation for her suffering. Her lawsuit does not specify an amount. Attorneys for Hartland are expected to file a response with the court.

"This goes far beyond teasing on the playground or calling somebody harmless names," said Amanda Ghannam, an attorney representing Vanderlaan. "This was criminal behavior that the school district allowed to be perpetuated for months and months."

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, is an important reminder of the continuing prevalence of racism and the need for schools and communities to do more to combat it. As Vanderlaan said, "I really hope that other school districts ... don't take situations like this lightly." We must all work together to create safe and inclusive environments where everyone is treated with respect and dignity.