A federal lawmaker's demand that the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) crack down on racist language at high school games puts a spotlight on the sportsmanship rules governing Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, West Linn and Oregon City.

U.S. Rep. Janelle Bynum, a Democrat representing Oregon's 5th Congressional District, issued a written statement Thursday, Sept. 24, calling on OSAA to redouble its efforts to eliminate racist incidents at sporting events. She warned that the governor and Oregon Legislature should consider stronger sanctions if OSAA does not act.

The statement followed alleged racist slurs directed at a Barlow High School football player during two September games, first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

All four area high schools compete under the same OSAA sportsmanship framework Bynum says is failing students. Three Rivers League play had not yet begun as of Sept. 24, with Lake Oswego and West Linn both undefeated in nonleague action.

Barlow mother Valerie Dixon alleges her son was targeted with slurs during a Sept. 11 game against Hood River Valley and again approximately a week later against North Salem.

The Gresham-Barlow, Hood River County and Salem-Keizer school districts are investigating.

Bynum was a primary sponsor of House Bill 3409 during the 2019 legislative session, alongside now-Gov. Tina Kotek and former Rep. Barbara Smith Warner. That law created a formal complaint process for misconduct at interscholastic events and sought annual surveys of students and parents. It was a response to a 2019 incident in which the Parkrose girls basketball team faced racist taunts from spectators at St. Helens High School.

In a written statement, the OSAA said it shares Bynum's belief that hate speech has no place in sport. The organization pointed to existing policies that allow officials to stop contests when discriminatory language is heard or reported. Students found to have used such language face multi-game suspensions and a mandatory sportsmanship course.

The OSAA launched its S.T.A.R. (Safety, Tolerance, Acceptance, Respect) initiative for the 2021-22 school year. The program requires a public address announcement at every OSAA event making clear that threatening or ridiculing anyone based on race, gender, age, color, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or religion is prohibited. Oregon City High School's video PA script is featured as an example on the OSAA S.T.A.R. resources page.

Under OSAA Rule 3, each member school's administration and coaches bear responsibility for maintaining sportsmanlike conduct among players, students and spectators. The OSAA Executive Board can treat unsportsmanlike or discriminatory behavior by anyone connected to a school as a violation by the school itself, with penalties up to suspension of membership or expulsion.

The Barlow allegations are the latest in a pattern. In spring 2026, Central Catholic's baseball team forfeited two games after an internal investigation found a player repeatedly used a racist slur during multiple games. Earlier incidents led to probation for Clatskanie High School in 2021 and Molalla High School in 2022.

Because the incidents involve students, schools are not always required to publicly disclose disciplinary outcomes. No on-record statements from Lake Oswego, Lakeridge, West Linn or Oregon City athletic directors were available as of Thursday.

The deadline for proposed OSAA rule amendments fell Thursday, Sept. 24. The OSAA Delegate Assembly is scheduled to meet Monday, Oct. 12.