By TEREASA NIMS
Sunday Times Newspapers
RIVERVIEW — A Riverview Community High School teacher is on paid administrative leave for allegedly assaulting a student Feb. 13.
A school official said business and computer-aided design teacher Donald Ukrainec reportedly punched a student during Free Hug Day. Authorities were contacted, but no official report has been filed.
Free Hug Day is where students can hug each other if they are wearing a sticker and want to be hugged.
Ukrainec was not available for comment.
One student, who wished not to be named said Ukrainec wasn’t wearing a sticker and yet, students basically mobbed him. He said the teacher defended himself.
The incident has many former and current students riled, saying Ukrainec would never do such a thing.
“There is no police report, no age on the victim and nothing that I see on social media showing him punching the victim,” said Lefty Hugh, 21, of Southgate, a former RCHS student who said he had Ukrainec for a teacher. “If it happened, wouldn’t it be somewhere on Facebook?”
Police did not return calls say if a report was filed yet.
(Tereasa Nims can be reached at [email protected].)