Recently, a senior prank at a prestigious Manhattan university school involved setting up fake border checkpoints in the lobby, amusingly asking Maria Chiband to oversee her classmates’ “documents.”
This unexpected stunt at the all-boys Upper West Side Prep School, which charges a hefty annual fee of $65,900, sparked reactions in a local Facebook group for moms.
A discussion in the “UWS Mommas” group highlighted parents’ growing irritation over the details of the event.
“It was a next-level prank day,” the parents commented. “The seniors set up a border patrol, allowing all students to pass through upon arrival. I can’t even imagine how humiliating that must have been for a Latinx student.”
One mother brought up the political climate, saying, “If this is just a prank, it certainly has a serious edge and needs further discussion.”
Additional alarming insights into the prank came from Gossa Mist, revealing some disturbing attitudes among the boys and subsequent outrage from staff and students regarding perceived anti-immigrant sentiments.
The prank featured a makeshift booth on May 1, accompanied by a wreath and caution tape, where students were asked to inspect their “essays,” as reported by Gothamist.
There were also inflatable eagles riding bikes displayed in the school lobby, with entrance decorations including American and Texas flags.
While Maria Chiband was outside, other students were waving an American flag.
“It felt really odd to see older Latino men playing music next to white children wrapped in American flags; it honestly seemed exploitative,” a mother commented on the Facebook thread.
The school leadership declined to comment when approached. According to Gothamist, headmaster Bodhi Brisendine expressed in an email to parents and staff that he “deeply regrets that this prank has taken a troubling turn.”
Teachers present at the school confirmed that the prank was a flop, though they were not privy to the details.
“It was mentioned in our meeting, but specifics weren’t shared. They just said it wasn’t appropriate,” a teacher stated. “Now I’m even more curious about what really went down.”
The student involved denied that he left class on Tuesday and stated he had no knowledge of what transpired.
Collegiate School boasts a notable list of alumni, including John F. Kennedy Jr., actor David Duchovny from “The X-Files,” and former New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger Jr.
The current board includes NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish.
Last year, controversy arose when former head David Lully was said to have dismissed an anti-Semitism task force as merely a “joke” and a “power play by Jewish families.” He eventually resigned, leading to Brisendine’s appointment.
