Coming Trend? Arresting Those Who Cheer at Graduations

Abridged from AOL News:

ROCK HILL, S.C. (June 10) - When school officials in Rock Hill, South Carolina, tell graduation ceremony crowds to hold their applause until the end, they mean it -- Police arrested seven people after they were accused of loud cheering during the ceremonies.

All the cases, except for one that includes a resisting arrest charge, will be handled in city court and are punishable by a maximum of 30 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Orr [who was arrested] said he thinks people should be allowed to cheer.

"For some people, it might be the only member of their family to graduate high school, and it was like a funeral in there," Orr said.

William Massey, 19, was arrested but said he plans to fight the charge. He said he simply "clapped and gave a little whoop" when his fiancee's name was called.

Last year in Galesburg, Illinois, five students were denied diplomas from the city's lone public high school after enthusiastic friends or family members cheered for them during commencement. Students could get their diplomas after completing eight hours of public service for the school district.