Reported hazing incident involving Damascus High School JV Football team

[Anonymous]

If principal called it hazing, then she needs to go, she knew what it was. And someone is actually buying that this was just JV idea, out of the blue? Was there a coach from Damascus saying they knew there was hazing, but nothing like this, or was that just some citizen saying it? And why are other schools' students, on away game, yelling at Damascus in August and September, "rapists?" If Damascus coaches are hearing these things at away games, aren't they wondering, hey, what is happening here? Are they all deaf?

[Anonymous]

What is the MCPS System Wide Athletic Director's response? Jeffrey Sullivan knows of serious problems in the athletic programs throughout the county and all he does is tweet #weRAISE. Has he gone to Damascus? Has he spoken with the families who have children on these teams? Is there enough training for coaches and students to stop all forms of abuse on,athletic teams?

Close to 25% of the arrests of MCPS employees for the past 2 years are of individuals who have a coaching position. Football and track for some reason has the majority. Perhaps it's the culture of these groups. Perhaps it's the opportunity that they provide to isolate and manipulate children.

I don't think children would act in the manner that they did without being shown that type of behavior was acceptable. The coaches should have been supervising the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So sad for the kids that were so violated, but I am equally sad for the kids who did the violation. They were probably raped in a similar manner and they did not think that what they were doing was bad. To tape and put it online means that they will also be caught for child pornography. I am quite sure that some kids were fearful that they would be killed if they refused to participate.

This is sickening on so many levels. Feel very sad for DHS also. No one wants this kind of shame.

I hate to disagree with anyone who seems as kind hearted as you, but no, just no. I don’t buy that these guys, who violated a fellow teammate with a broom and posted it online, did not have understanding of how horrible their actions were. To suggest that, suggests that they lack humanity and common sense.

It seems like the perpetrators were also under 16 from the reporting. So we are talking about young teens. I don’t think there’s any reason to think they were abused or raped themselves, but in terms of what’s “that bad” - teens really don’t have the same brains as adults. Lots of traits that are sociopathic in adults are actually pretty normal in adolescents. Which is why they need supervision and are so vulnerable to toxic cultures. They need to be held accountable for their actions, but they also need adults and older peers to set an example of positive ways to be in the world. I am interested to see what the investigation can reveal about the coaching staff and the varsity team as well. I’m somewhat disappointed the varsity team didn’t also forfeit their last game because when push comes to shove it is one team and they should be responsible for setting the example of how the JV boys see the team and team culture.

Wait a minute, are you saying that stuffing a broom up your teammate's ass is 'pretty normal in adolescents'?

I didn't grow up in this country, thank God, but I have two brothers who played team sports, and I assure you, none of them could have imagined this scenario in their worst nightmare, not to mention, carried it out in real life. Something is deeply wrong here when, in this time and day, kids do this stuff and brag about it.
And sickening adults, like you, are trying to normalize it. What if that was your child who was anally raped in a locker room?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charged as juveniles ... must be white

I am confused. What does that mean?

Means nothing. The assailants were not even actually white. Not that it matters, IMO.

Is race immaterial? Should not race be immaterial for everything? Are they Asians by any chance?

Yes it’s immaterial. This really has nothing to do with race. Sexual abuse happens in EVERY color. Every race. And there needs to be stronger punishments implemented for whatever race the assailants are.

Black males teens are charged as adults and white make teens are charged as juveniles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Charged as juveniles ... must be white

I am confused. What does that mean?

Means nothing. The assailants were not even actually white. Not that it matters, IMO.

Is race immaterial? Should not race be immaterial for everything? Are they Asians by any chance?

Yes it’s immaterial. This really has nothing to do with race. Sexual abuse happens in EVERY color. Every race. And there needs to be stronger punishments implemented for whatever race the assailants are.

Black males teens are charged as adults and white make teens are charged as juveniles.

Not in this case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the MCPS System Wide Athletic Director's response? Jeffrey Sullivan knows of serious problems in the athletic programs throughout the county and all he does is tweet #weRAISE. Has he gone to Damascus? Has he spoken with the families who have children on these teams? Is there enough training for coaches and students to stop all forms of abuse on,athletic teams?

Close to 25% of the arrests of MCPS employees for the past 2 years are of individuals who have a coaching position. Football and track for some reason has the majority. Perhaps it's the culture of these groups. Perhaps it's the opportunity that they provide to isolate and manipulate children.

I don't think children would act in the manner that they did without being shown that type of behavior was acceptable. The coaches should have been supervising the team.

+100

This is just another example of a system wide problem in MCPS. Inept, pathetic leadership.

[Anonymous]

Since when is it okay to call sexual assault hazing? If a girl was raped would they have the nerve to call it "hazing"? I don't think so. This is a horrific crime and I have a hard time believing this happened.

[Anonymous]

The ring leader was expelled from Clarksburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ring leader was expelled from Clarksburg.

If he was expelled from one pubic high school, then why was he at another public high school? What was the offense he was expelled for at Clarksburg?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since when is it okay to call sexual assault hazing? If a girl was raped would they have the nerve to call it "hazing"? I don't think so. This is a horrific crime and I have a hard time believing this happened.

Do you think it was made up? I really don’t think so. I totally believe it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ring leader was expelled from Clarksburg.

If he was expelled from one pubic high school, then why was he at another public high school? What was the offense he was expelled for at Clarksburg?

MCPS is required to educate all kids. This has come up in other cases. They probably had to put him somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Sickening, just sickening.

So, what can parents with kids in MCPS do to make our voices heard? Do we need to protest in front of Damascus HS to demonstrate that parents stand firm with these brave RAPE victims? Do we need to demand resignations of ANY staff member who should have been paying attention and wasn't? Do we need to have a march? A sit-in?

What do we do to say that THIS IS TOO MUCH AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAND FOR IT???????

Signed,
MCPS Parent

[Anonymous]

Why hasn't the raping incident been brought up on this thread? https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/three-male-teens-charged-with-rape-amid-damascus-football-hazing-investigation/2018/11/02/1dae6656-dec2-11e8-85df-7a6b4d25cfbb_story.html?utm_term=.a0273eebbde2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why hasn't the raping incident been brought up on this thread? https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/three-male-teens-charged-with-rape-amid-damascus-football-hazing-investigation/2018/11/02/1dae6656-dec2-11e8-85df-7a6b4d25cfbb_story.html?utm_term=.a0273eebbde2

Isn't what is described in the article the entire point of this thread?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If principal called it hazing, then she needs to go, she knew what it was. And someone is actually buying that this was just JV idea, out of the blue? Was there a coach from Damascus saying they knew there was hazing, but nothing like this, or was that just some citizen saying it? And why are other schools' students, on away game, yelling at Damascus in August and September, "rapists?" If Damascus coaches are hearing these things at away games, aren't they wondering, hey, what is happening here? Are they all deaf?

I think she was trying to protect the victims. But MOCO police issued a press release that they were investigating sex assaults.

I can’t imagine what the victims are going through. There is nowhere for them to hide and keep this private as they deal with it.