Reported hazing incident involving Damascus High School JV Football team
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Anonymous
I agree with this. Derek Turner is unresponsive. even his own office will have his deputy call reporters back. And that’s for “good news” stories. He’s not an asset when it comes to positive marketing of MCPS either. But really, everyone needs to go. Since that won’t happen, families really need the press to do the digging and reporting needed to protect kids (and staff) who have been victimized. Grateful to the press too. |
Anonymous
It was also hazing. The drum major at Florida A&M University died in 2013, someone was convicted of manslaughter, that was also hazing. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article115652918.html There are lots of serious issues about the incident at Damascus HS. I don't think that MCPS calling it hazing is one of them. It was second-degree rape, AND it was also hazing. |
Anonymous
It is not in the Principal’s best interest to call the police. It reflects poorly on the school and it’s easier to cover things up. Obviously not in the best interest of the victims, but MCPS proves time and time again that student safety is not a priority. We have had multiple incidents of students being assaulted at our school or on the bus, and they amazingly don’t show up on the Student Safety reports. |
Anonymous
Interesting. Hard to believe that it’s false with that many victims though. Sounds like someone saying that it didn’t happen to them, so it must not have happened to anyone. |
Anonymous
| The Damascus HS varsity team will play tonight, because the police have not yet found any indication that the varsity team is involved - says Jack Smith. I think that's the wrong decision. |
Anonymous
| Hard to believe that they are letting the Football team play tonight. |
Anonymous
I agree. The email/letter that was just sent is more BS. |
Anonymous
E-mail the superintendent, cc the BoE. I just did. |
Anonymous
+100 And Smith is trying to shove the blame off saying that MCPD has cleared the Varsity game. No, not quite Mr. Smith. Own your own bad decisions. |
Anonymous
Interesting they used "rape" and not "hazing." Seems like they were paying attention to that criticism. |
Anonymous
The e-mail doesn't say that MCPD has cleared the varsity game. It says that MCPD hasn't provided any reason to cancel the varsity game. But yes, it's Smith's decision, not MCPD's. |
Anonymous
I e-mailed Jeffrey Sullivan yesterday (in part because someone helpfully posted his e-mail address on this thread) and I think the new missive this morning means they are hearing from a lot of people who think continuing the varsity season as if nothing has happened is the wrong decision. In the legal system, there is often a delay between crime and punishment, it's part of the way the system works and the way the system has to work. But it is NOT a good way to discipline kids. The longer the time period between the event and the response, the less value it has. It may very well be that the varsity team had no direct involvement in this incident. However, if MCPS wants a sports culture where teammates are responsible for and to each other, then the whole program - JV and Varsity - must be responsibility for evaluating what they could have done better to make this not have happened. The allegation by victims that they had heard rumors of this as a "tradition" clearly implicates varsity players. Is anyone going to come forward to confirm it if it means being responsible for the end of the varsity season? If the varsity season is already over, they are more likely to get that kind of information. |
Anonymous
| We need greater accountability. The letter from Jeffrey Sullivan says they are fully committed to the athletic directors and coaches. At Damascus, the athletic director and coaches are responsible for the culture and the environment. The culture they cultivated is one that made space for this event. Yes, the kids are responsible for their actions, but we cannot stop there. The athletic director and coaches must be fired. There has to be a clear message here. Directors and coaches must take responsibility for cultivating a culture where the kids know that any type of hazing will get them suspended from the team. The coaches themselves need to set the example by their behavior and how they coach. |
Anonymous
In the email, Smith is making it sound like he’s making the decision based on information from MCPD. I think that’s a cop out. |
Anonymous
Well said. I agree. |