No details about those other incidents were made public. The Middletown Blue Raiders will not be playing football this season. Dr. Chelton L. Hunter, Superintendent of Schools, speaks during a Middletown school board meeting on the high school football hazing incident. I spoke with Dr. Hunter Chelton Hunter today in regards to it, and the way I put it was were rivals, but were neighbors. hosted a scrimmage Saturday against Northern. Well work to bring our school community together in a positive manner as we move forward into the new school year., Gary Gaines, coach of Friday Night Lights fame, dead at 73, The first Michigan High School Football Player of the Year watch list for 2022, Ranking the Big Tens fight songs: The Victors and everything else. MORE: Western Pa. high school football program pauses season as police investigate hazing incident. You can also stream WITF radio live on our website or ask your smart speaker to Play WITF Radio.. WITF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity registered in the US under EIN 23-1629016. All rights reserved (About Us). "My son explained what happened it's. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. customerservice@witf.org. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. But I think that like the MeToo movement and like Black Lives Matter, if we start to train groups of people and students and encourage people with leadership abilities when and how to step in as a group, that maybe we can change the tide and turn the tide and and have our young people realize that these kinds of behaviors are not only illegal and not only, in my opinion, immoral, but that theyre not going to help anybody to grow up in and be a fine human being., Get the WITF Mobile App Police investigating hazing involving Middletown football team. All of the charges are misdemeanors except for the attempted sexual assault charges, which are felonies. The official registration and financial information of WITF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, (800) 732-0999. August 16, 2022. 10 views Aug 24, 2022 Dislike Share WHTM - abc27 News 3.61K subscribers Middletown cancels football season due to widespread hazing; community reacts Lower Swatara police are investigating reports of hazing on the Middletown high school football team, Dauphin . Acri, who spent six seasons at Susquenita, took over the Blue Raiders program last year. Hall of Fame quarterback who began career with Steelers has entered hospice care. In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season, he wrote. On Friday, the school district announ. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. August 18, 2022. On Smart Talk, Douglas Fierberg, an attorney and expert on legal issues involving school law, hazing, and sexual assault told us,Were talking about an absolute lack of judgment on some level with young people. The district attorney said there were two ringleaders, both 17 years old, who are accused of committing sexualized hazing against three students at the school on Aug. 11 and in various other incidents over the past year. Any students found to have participated in this incident will be disciplined in accordance with our student code of conduct and hazing policy. We know we must work to address the culture of this team, educate our student body about hazing, and put programs in place to help us ensure that this kind of atmosphere is never allowed to exist in our school facilities.. Unfortunately, this video demonstrates that this hazing was much more widespread, and involved many more students than we had previously known, Hunter said in the statement. The days of journalisms one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over. All rights reserved (About Us). it is the quickest way to completely humiliate a victim. Middletowns football program has been one of the most successful in Pennsylvania over the last few years. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM) Middletown Area School District has canceled its 2022 football season due to widespread hazing among the football team. But again, youre dealing with 16, 17, 18 year old men, young men who are obviously in a locker room that is not being properly supervised., Lipkins was asked what can be done to stop hazing,The first thing is that we have to have many ways to report hazing and anonymous ways. Superintendent Chelton Hunter made that announcement Wednesday in a written statement after he said the district obtained additional video showing a hazing incident, which is being investigated by Dauphin County police, was more widespread than previously believed. Check back for updates. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hunter said administrators were working to find other opportunities for the schools cheerleaders and band for the fall. But, after new video of more alleged hazing from the same location turned up, the school district decided to cancel the Blue Raiders' upcoming season on Wednesday. On Aug. 12, several players were kicked off the team and a few days later, head coach Scott Acri resigned. It simply cannot and will not be tolerated. Seven former Middletown High School football players were expelled after the school district's investigation of a hazing incident earlier this summer. But Middletown has been shaken and many Central Pennsylvanians appalled by an alleged hazing on the football team. In light of this, we have made the decision to cancel the 2022 football season, he wrote. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Police learned of the incident Friday and detectives coordinated with the child abuse coordinator in the district attorneys office Saturday morning, Chardo said. ", "The kind of hazing that occurred in our facilities with this team is reprehensible. "The video is difficult to watch as this is a completely unacceptable, offensive, and highly inappropriate act. As we previously reported, Middletown Area High School's football season was canceled in August after several cell phone videos surfaced that appeared to show serious hazing incidents at the school. August 16, 2022. The extent of the hazing prompted the district to cancel its football season after the head football coach resigned. Hunter made the decision after obtaining the additional video of the incidents which took place during the teams heat acclimation week which began back on Aug. 8, he said Wednesday. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. An open locker with a jersey, helmet and ball in a authentic football locker room. Cell phone video, apparently taken by players, shows two teammates who appear to be restrained by a group of fellow students and the boys are being poked in the buttocks area with a muscle therapy gun and other athletic equipment. Check out whats on sale! Part of it is to show that the older kids, the seniors have more power and that the newbies, the people just coming on the team have no power. The season opener against Lower Dauphin High School is scheduled for Aug. 26. As it turns out, that day in the turf room wasnt the only time hazing had occurred with the football team, according to a news release from the district attorneys office. The Middletown School District has canceled the high school's football season after investigators found another video showing a hazing incident that police are investigating. Govern said he could not comment further. So whatever we can do to help and you know, I look at it, whereas, you know, with my own daughters, I would want them to have every opportunity possible, Dr. Iskric said. Thats one of the advantages of the Better Homes and Gardens collection. We know we must work to address the culture of this team, educate our student body about hazing, and put programs in place to help us ensure that this kind of atmosphere is never allowed to exist in our school facilities.. And thats part of why I think sexualized hazing has become popular, because its the quickest way to prove that you dont have any power, that youre completely humiliated and that were in charge.. Updated: Aug 15, 2022 / 09:30 PM EDT. Check out whats on sale! 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. A 16-year-old student was charged with unlawful restraint, simple assault, and hazing. Scott Acri, who was hired prior to last season to coach the team, stepped down last week, and was replaced by Rob Brodish as acting coach for the season. Scott Acri, who was hired prior to last season to coach the team, stepped down last week, and was replaced by Rob Brodish as acting coach for the season. Each video shows a group of students holding down a youth, forcing him to spread his legs as he cries and screams. Any staff members who were found to have ignored this kind of hazing will also face disciplinary action., It simply cannot and will not be tolerated, he said. The Dauphin County borough takes a lot of pride in their Friday night football games. It simply cannot and will not be tolerated, Hunter said. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM) Middletown Area School District has canceled its 2022 football season due to widespread hazing among the football team. Quality patio furniture doesnt have to be expensive. The school district made a statement to Parents/Guardians on their website which said, The Middletown Area School District is currently investigating a situation involving the high school football team regarding improper conduct toward other team members. Again, I know this is difficult news, he said. I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and will impact many students and families., Hunter called the incidents reprehensible., MORE: Middletown football videos shine harsh light on sexualized hazing, quickest way to completely humiliate: experts. Quality patio furniture doesnt have to be expensive. An alleged hazing incident involving the Middletown football team continues to send shockwaves throughout the district. August 25, 2022 3:50 pm ET. I know this decision will be met with many different opinions and will impact many students and families., Hunter called the incidents reprehensible., MORE: Middletown football videos shine harsh light on sexualized hazing, quickest way to completely humiliate: experts. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Middletown cancels high school football season after finding more hazing videos: superintendent : r/Pennsylvania 7 mo. Middletown Area School District says it will work to find other opportunities this fall for the cheerleading team and marching band, who are both impacted by this seasons cancellation. Lower Dauphin was unable to find a last-minute opponent and is seeking an opponent for the end of the season. He replaced Brett Myers, who unexpectedly resigned in December 2020 following a celebrated eight-year run that includes three District 3 3A titles and three PIAA championship game appearances. Three students, ages 16 and 17, were charged with unlawful restraint and hazing. Police investigating hazing involving Middletown football team, Volunteers for America helps female veterans readjust to civilian life, Record dry weather in May leads to record heat in June, Hundreds of food bagged in Scranton with CHOP, Shapiro addresses Xylazine "tranq" crisis in Pennsylvania, Party on the Patio kicks off at Mohegan Sun Pocono, Volunteer Fire Company Carnival fun kicks off, Lackawanna County Heritage Fair kicks off in Montage Mountain, Growing concerns of bunny dumping in local area, Crews battle afternoon Tresckow house fire. He says they are working on trying to get them for away games too, but some additional logistics are involved before it can also be offered. 87 8/25/2022 10:16 AM PT Getty/Middletown Area School District/Facebook Composite There won't be any football this year for one high school in Pennsylvania . Sean Simmers | ssimmers@pennlive.com. Police were alerted to the hazing allegations by officials with the Middletown Area School District, who learned of the hazing allegations when a video showing an assault on a football. An alleged hazing incident involving the Middletown football team continues to send shockwaves throughout the district. MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (WHTM) Lower Swatara Township Police are investigating a case of hazing on the Middletown Area High School football team, according to . There were additional incidents over the last year targeting three other players, including one that happened at a home, the district attorneys release said. 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