Shared shower not so hot, teen says

COQUILLE, Ore. - A high-school senior who lost the title of valedictorian for showering with some boys testified yesterday that it was just a spring-fever prank and that she had skinny-dipped or soaked in a hot tub with the same boys.

Following her appearance in Coos County Circuit Court, Leslie Shorb, 18, said if she had it to do over, she would not take the shower in the Powers High School boys' locker room and now wants to get on with her life, studying engineering at Oregon State University and someday raising a family.

"I just want my valedictorian status back," she said. "That's it."

Shorb went to court for a preliminary injunction restoring her title as valedictorian of Powers High and allowing her to address her class at graduation tomorrow.

After hearing testimony and sharply questioning Shorb's lawyer about legal issues, Judge Richard Barron said he would issue a written opinion by this morning.

Shorb testified that she walked into the boys' locker room during the last period of the day on April 11, undressed and went into the shower, where five boys joined her after their physical-education class.

"There was no reason besides I thought it would be funny," Shorb testified. "I don't know. Something to do, I guess."

Three senior boys who showered with Shorb testified that they didn't feel their privacy was invaded or that they were sexually harassed in any way. There had been no touching or sexual overtones. They added that they had all skinny-dipped or soaked naked in a hot tub with Shorb before.

Powers Principal Don Grotting testified that he imposed a suspension of 10 days, twice the limit noted in the student handbook and twice what he had ever handed out for fighting, because the shower incident was so unusual.