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--> --> Students may face suit over prank SALEM (AP) - A group of South Salem High School students could be expelled and sued for a senior prank labeling their vice principal as a sex offender. Residents near the school found fliers claiming that Manuel Palacio had been in prison for sodomy and sex abuse, and would be moving into a neighborhood house. Palacio has no such history, Principal Kris Olsen said. "It concerns me that we have students who think this level of prank is funny," Olsen said. Palacio came to the Salem-Keizer School District last year. He is the only bilingual administrator at South Salem, officials said. His wife, Maria, is director of compensatory education for the district. Up to seven students may have been involved in the prank, and several were underclassmen. Those students could be expelled, Olsen said. Pranks and practical jokes are common in high schools toward the end of the school year. Previous years have seen car tires stuffed over goal posts and golf balls scattered in school hallways. The seniors who posted the fliers Tuesday evening will not be able to participate in graduation ceremonies, but still will receive diplomas. Salem police Lt. Bill Kohlmeyer said criminal charges will not be filed against the students involved in the prank. But the students could face a possible civil suit for defamation of character. "It does almost irreparable harm to this man's reputation," Kohlmeyer said. "If this was my kid, I would be absolutely terrified of losing my home and everything I own to a lawsuit," Kohlmeyer said. "Your reputation as a teacher dealing with youth and a person dealing with the public, it's to be guarded. You can't even put a price on it." Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing