Sam McNair is supposed to graduate from Deluth High School in May, but that may not happen now because of that hug. He received the long suspension for what the school says is sexual harassment.
"I have five months left in my senior year," he said. "I don't see why they'd take that away from me."
The hug was captured on surveillance video. McNair placed his arms around the teacher and hugs her, then turns as she pushes him away. According to the discipline report, the teacher says McNair's lips and cheek touched her neck. It's a claim McNair denies.
McNair's mother, April, says the school should have let her know if they had an issue with hugging before suspending him and derailing his college plans.
"He's a senior. He plays football," she said "He's getting ready for lacrosse season. And you're stripping him of the opportunity of even getting a full scholarship for athletics for college."
A spokesperson for Gwinnet County schools says a past discipline record can impact the punishment. McNair does have a discipline record and previous suspensions but not for sexual harassment.
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