Source: The Christian Science Monitor

On October 31, 2000, The Christian Science Monitor reported that "for many American parents, the celebration of Halloween is a long-standing tradition of American childhood, as integral a part of autumn as a cup of hot cider or a football bonfire. But for a growing number of today's school administrators, Halloween has become pretty spooky. Fears of school violence, protests from parents about the holiday's pagan roots, and discomfort over losing class hours in an age rigidly focused on test scores have put a damper on...

Source: The Boston Globe

On October 28, 2000 The Boston Globe published an article entitled "Back to Nature: Paganism growing in popularity on nation's campuses." The article offers photographs of the ritual activities of MIT's Pagan group; they had to "point out that the dedication plaque in the chapel promised it stood for all students to worship God in their own way" before they were granted use of the space. A professor comments on the growth in Pagan groups as follows: "It's natural for college students to be attracted to things they haven't thought...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 28, 2000, the Los Angeles Times printed comments from Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious leaders on whether Halloween should be celebrated as a holiday. Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi of the Islamic Society of Orange County stated that "Halloween has no place in Islam. It was an old pagan holiday of the witches and the dead. Later some Christians tried to Christianize it by calling it "All Saints Day." However, there are still many Christians who resent it and consider it a bad holiday. Some even call it a "helliday."...

Source: ABCNEWS.Com

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/DailyNews/studentmagic001028.html

On October 28, 2000, ABCNEWS.Com published an article entitled "Not-So-Practical Magic - High School Expels Student for Casting a Sickening Spell"

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

On October 27, 2000, the San Francisco Chronicle published an article on some Christians' responses to Halloween: "To many Christians in the Bay Area, this night, when identities and inhibitions are shed and children turn into candy-crazed creatures out for a sustained sugar fix, is anything but the benignly spooky trick-or-treat ritual most relish. To them, Halloween is, well, evil. Far from being harmless, they believe, the holiday is harmful to one's faith and goes against church doctrine. They see it as a celebration of...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On October 27, 2000, The San Francisco Chronicle published an article about the work of Jo Ellen Michelle , a professional witch. Ms. Doney convenes a group, and the fall equinox ritual is described. "Due to inherent fire danger they use a flashlight instead of a flame to light up the small area. Members of the coven hold hands in the circle and begin chanting and walking counterclockwise around the altar. They welcome the north, the south, east and west. They welcome the names of forces from the pages of mythology, as...

Source: Los Angeles Times

On October 27, 2000, the Los Angeles Times published an article entitled "Aiming to Scare the Devil Out of You: Conservative Christians are Finding Alternatives to Halloween." Christian-themed haunted houses use real-life terror themes like drunken driving, gang shootings and drug overdoses, taking back "a pagan holiday and giving it back to God's Glory" according to Shawn Anthony, a 29-year-old pastor and director of Harvest Outreach, a national evangelical organization aimed at teenagers. 42 Orange County churches participated...

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

On October 27, 2000, The San Francisco Chronicle ran an article on the variety of ways that Pagans celebrate Halloween. Many allow their children to participate in the secularized trick-or-treating, and then they celebrate the high holiday, which represents the half-way point between the fall equinox and winter solstice. One Witch said, "It's that time of year when we commune with our parents and grandparents and animals that have passed over to the other side. We celebrate stories about them, which we call passing-...

Source: ACLU Press Release

http://www.aclu.org/news/2000/n102600.html

On October 26, 2000, the ACLU reported that "ACLU of Oklahoma Files Federal Lawsuit on Behalf of Student Accused of 'Hexing'"

Source: Chronicle of Higher Education

http://chronicle.merit.edu/free/v47/i08/08a04901.htm

On October 20, 2000, the Chronicle of Higher Education published an article entitled "Campus Witches May Wear Black, but Don't Look for Hats or Broomsticks - Inspired by environmentalism, feminism, and TV, more students embrace pagan beliefs."

Source: The Seattle Times

On October 14, 2000, The Seattle Times reported that "Diversity Brings Wiccan Minister to Dallas Council for Invocation."

Source: Star Tribune

On October 7, 2000, the Star Tribune reported that "Monte Plaisance filed a lawsuit, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, in U.S. District Court seeking to overturn a Terrebonne Parish ordinance that punishes fortune telling and palm reading with up to $500 in fines and one year in jail. Plaisance, a 28-year-old Wiccan minister who says he communicates with ancient Greek deities, let a detective investigating his witchcraft museum photograph Tarot cards, altar, crystal balls, trident wands and pentagrams. The museum also...

Source: The Atlanta Journal and Constitution

On September 21, 2000 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution reported that "more than 300 pagans gathered Wednesday to dispel myths about their ancient religion, which they say has been unfairly demonized by Christians pushing for prayer in public schools. 'Our point is, you can have no religions in the public schools or you can have all religions in the public schools, but you are not going to have just the Christian religion in the public schools,' said rally organizer Ginger Strivelli. She is a co-founding...