A KUOW journalist returns to the story that rocked Garfield High School when she was a student episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 25, 2026 · 22 MIN

A KUOW journalist returns to the story that rocked Garfield High School when she was a student

from Soundside · host KUOW News and Information

In 1999, student journalists at Garfield High School heard a rumor. It was about a beloved teacher named Tom Hudson.  He taught biology. He ran a popular outdoors program. And, according to the rumor, he sexually abused students.  The journalists broke the news of these allegations for their school newspaper…. And chaos unfolded.  The reporters faced pressure to step down from the paper. Their schoolmates turned on them. Their teacher was placed on leave.  And, just a few months after everything blew up, Mr. Hudson died by suicide.   “Adults in the Room” is a new series from KUOW that explores the questions that went unanswered 27 years ago: Did Mr. Hudson really abuse these students? Or did these young journalists act irresponsibly, at the expense of a teacher’s life?  Guests:  Isolde Raftery is a managing editor at KUOW. She's also the host of “Adults in the Room" and  one of the student journalists who broke the news on these allegations at Garfield.  Related links:  KUOW - Focus: Adults in the Room KUOW - Two Seattle girls learn a secret at their high school. Their lives change forever KUOW - In 'Adults in the Room,' a KUOW investigative journalist re-reports the story that's haunted her for nearly three decades Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 25, 2026

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“Adults in the Room” is a new KUOW series that goes back to Garfield High School in the late 90s, when student journalists reported on allegations of sexual abuse by a teacher.

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A KUOW journalist returns to the story that rocked Garfield High School when she was a student

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