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THURSDAY 12.17.15

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CAN SOLID DEBATE

MOVE THE NEEDLE?
Christie receives mostly positive reviews in fifth
Republican debate, awaits new polling numbers

Suspended
animation:
Kids punished
over dancing
MIKE DAVIS @BYMIKEDAVIS

MANCHESTER - High school students and parents

are up in arms after six students were suspended for
refusing to stop a dance battle or recording it.
In a letter sent to parents Friday, Manchester Township High School Principal Dennis Adams said the
dance-offs began innocently earlier in the week before escalating into a disturbance. Friday was the last
straw, when a large group surrounded two dancers and
blocked the hallway from students trying to get to class,
Adams said.
I made an announcement at the beginning of period
5/6 to let students know that there was to be no more
dancing in the building, Adams said. Obviously, students are allowed to dance in appropriate venues, such
as dances, proms, talent shows and other suitable settings. However, the large-scale dancing when students are supposed to be proceeding to classes and
learning is not permissible.
The cafeteria is also off-limits for dancing, Adams
said: The environment is one with many students in
one location and can quickly escalate.
Many students compared the situation to the 1980s
film Footloose, in which a teenager moves to a small
town where a local pastor has banned dancing and rock
music.
Footloose all over again, we dance if we want, you
cant tell us nothing, one student tweeted.
Students have turned Twitter and Instagram into an
online revolt this week, posting videos of dance-offs
and using the hashtag #FreeWBWA which, based on
student tweets, appears to stand for White Boys With
Attitude.
You cant suspend people for expressing themselves, wrote another student.
Meanwhile, to help ease the controversy, school administrators spoke to a few students about starting a
dance club or dance team to develop an appropriate
venue to express their dance talents, Adams said.
Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT
See what readers have to say about the Manchester
suspensions. HOME & SCHOOL, 11A

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Donald Trump (left) and Chris Christie talk together during a break in the CNN Republican presidential debate on Tuesday at
The Venetian Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
ASBURY PARK PRESS FILE PHOTO

BOB JORDAN @BOBJORDANAPP

Gov. Chris Christie has received mostly positive

reviews for his return to the main GOP presidential
debate, a drawn-out tussle over terrorism, Middle
East wars and commander-in-chief issues.
Undetermined was whether the showing would finally perk up his weak national poll numbers. What
seemed clearer Wednesday: Christie will likely gain
more attention from his rivals the next time the Republican hopefuls meet on the debate stage.
Donald Trump was the top choice when readers of
the Drudge Report were asked who won the final
GOP presidential debate of 2015. Christie landed in
fifth place in the influential blogs unscientific poll,

where visitors to the website can vote multiple times.

Christie also did well in veteran GOP pollster
Frank Luntzs focus group, which monitored the
CNN-televised debate Tuesday night for Fox News.
Luntz said Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Christie had the
breakout performances.
Christie spokeswoman Maria Comella said the
candidate proved once again that he is the strong
and proven leader who has experience actually making decisions and dealing with the consequences in
order to keep America safe.
But Christie also received good reviews in past debates (including his undercard debate a month ago in
See CHRISTIE, Page 14A

For analysis, video, photos and more from the debate,

visit APP.com

Six Manchester High School students were suspended.

Long Branch Sgt. Frank Passatino was off

duty when he saw a man with a bat charge
at someone at a red light on Route 138. He
intervened just in time, potentially saving
the victim from severe injuries.

Road rage victim

says off-duty cop
saved his life
STEPH SOLIS @STEPHMSOLIS

NUMBER 301

WALL - What started with a lane change on Route 18

ended with Ryan Hennessey thinking he was about to
be beaten with a baseball bat.
He got out of his car with a baseball bat and proceeds to run at me full speed, screaming I want to kill
you, said Hennessey, 41, of Spring Lake Heights, recalling the confrontation late Friday afternoon at the
corner of Route 138 and New Bedford Road.
Thats when Long Branch Sgt. Frank Passatino
stepped in. Having just left a training session, the offduty officer was in full uniform and had his service
weapon drawn.
While Im thinking, how do I get myself out of this
situation? just out of the blue the cop was there, Hennessey said, and he very easily saved my life.
Drop your weapon, Passatino told the man with the
bat. He ordered the man, later identified as Douglas S.
Morton, on the ground and called Wall police. Morton,

SINCE 1879

See OFFICER, Page 14A

Luxury Living

Are you still

shopping?
Check out our list of some last-minute gift ideas for that
special someone this holiday season. STORY, 1D

Judge declares hung jury

in trial of officer charged
in Freddie Gray death. 1B

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VOLUME 136