9:49 a.m. — FARGO — The father of a ninth-grader here wants principals to apologize for disciplining his son after he asked a sensitive question during a class assembly.

FARGO — The father of a ninth-grader here wants principals to apologize for disciplining his son after he asked a sensitive question during a class assembly. Jon Sannes said if he and his son receive a written apology, "I'm willing to let this go."

Sannes has filed a complaint with the American Civil Liberties Union, saying the school violated his son's right to freedom of speech.

Jennifer Ring, executive director of the ACLU of the Dakotas, said she couldn't confirm whether Sannes had contacted her office. But she said the organization has interest in cases like this.

"Anytime a school chooses to discipline students for the content of their speech, that's a matter of concern," she said.

Ninth-grader Phil Sannes was banned from future school assemblies after he asked speaker Michael Durant whether the helicopter pilot had been raped.

Durant, whose story inspired the movie "Black Hawk Down," was captured by hostile forces in Somalia.

The helicopter pilot said he wouldn't answer the question. After the presentation, an assistant principal had Phil Sannes apologize to the speaker and then called Jon Sannes.

Principal Linda Davis said Thursday she and Assistant Principal Peggy Stibbe met with Sannes. She said she would look into his concerns and get back to him within a week.

"His version of what happened isn't what I've been told happened," she said. "I feel this situation was handled appropriately."

Superintendent David Flowers, who has spoken with Sannes by phone, said he also supports the assistant principal's decision.