Posted on 09/24/2004 10:42:00 PM PDT by churchillbuff
CONCORD, N.H. — Police yesterday launched a criminal investigation into alleged hazing incidents involving female students at St. Paul’s School while the private boarding school conducts internal disciplinary proceedings against the girls.
A total of 15 seniors and senior leaders, known as prefects, allegedly hazed new, incoming students in two dormitories late last week. One of the alleged incidents involved using an object to simulate oral sex on the younger students, multiple sources said.
A school administrator yesterday confirmed he reported an alleged hazing incident to Concord police, but would not discuss the nature of the accusations nor give the number of students involved or their ages.
“We’re extremely disappointed in what’s happened here at our school,” said Douglas J. Dickson, dean of students at the college-preparatory school whose alumni include FBI Director Robert Mueller, Democratic Presidential nominee John F. Kerry and cartoonist Garry Trudeau.
“There is a lot of sadness, disappointment and difficulty right now that we’re working through,” Dickson said. “Kids are kids. Adolescents have, and will continue to, make mistakes. What we’ve had here are some kids who made a mistake.”
The alleged hazing happened Sept. 10 and 11, Dickson said. Staff did not become aware of it until Tuesday when “information came forward and we pursued that information,” he said.
Police said the school reported the matter to them yesterday, first by telephone, then e-mail.
“This is a criminal investigation because student hazing is a crime,” Concord Police Lt. Keith G. Mitchell said.
Student hazing is a class B misdemeanor under state law.
According to multiple sources, the alleged hazing happened in two separate, all-girl residential houses — Ford and Kittredge II.
In both cases, seniors and prefects living in the houses woke the new students from their sleep. Sources said a total 12 new students were subjected to the alleged hazing. New students generally are freshmen and sophomores.
The alleged hazing at Kittredge II involved at least partial nudity, multiple sources said. The alleged behavior included assigning the younger girls risque nicknames and using an object on them to simulate oral sex, several sources said.
The alleged incident at Ford house involved a “truth-or-dare” game in which younger students were asked about their sexual experiences, sources said. Glitter then allegedly was spread on the floor and the girls told to pick out all the yellow pieces, sources said.
One parent said the younger Ford house girls have written a letter saying they bear no ill will toward nor felt humiliated by the seniors allegedly responsible.
Bishop Craig B. Anderson, the school’s rector, informed parents of the incidents Thursday night in an e-mail entitled “emergency notice on hazing.”
“I am writing to tell you that in two of our girls’ houses, Sixth Form students engaged in a welcoming ritual with the new students in their houses that most would consider to be hazing,” Anderson wrote in his e-mail. Sixth Form students are seniors.
“Although there have been no reports of physical contact or any type of physical harm involved, the school will continue to send the message that treating anyone with disrespect is simply not acceptable,” Anderson added.
Anderson said he will address the matter with faculty and staff in chapel Monday morning.
Further discussions “to clarify what has happened” and “to reinforce the rules and expectations as outlined in the student handbook” will take place Monday night, the rector added.
Dickson said most parents he has spoken with “are upset, disappointed, some are angry. It runs a full gamut of emotions.”
A Concord police detective interviewed Dickson at St. Paul’s yesterday; the investigation will resume Monday, Lt. Mitchell said.
“Hopefully, next week, if we have the identities of some suspects as well as some victims, we will certainly attempt to seek them out and interview them if they are available,” Mitchell said.
Meanwhile, disciplinary proceedings against each of the girls involved began Thursday night and were expected to conclude by today, Dickson said.
Once the hearings are complete, the school’s disciplinary committee will make a recommendation to the rector on what action should be taken against each student, Dickson said.
Recommendations could range from taking no action, to suspension to expulsion, he said. The rector has the final decision-making authority.
Dickson said the school will not make the results of any disciplinary action public.
“That is the business of students of St. Paul’s School, the parents and their families,” he said.
Established in 1856, St. Paul’s School is based on a 2,000-acre campus and is part of the National Association of Episcopal Schools, Dickson said.
“Our lifestyle is very closely approximated to a monastic lifestyle,” he said.
Currently, 260 females and 255 males are enrolled at the school, Dickson said. There are about 100 faculty, who also live on campus.
The school, he said, has worked “very, very hard to make hazing . . . a thing of the past at schools like ours.”
At a public road that splits the school, a security guard in a van followed a reporter who was attempting to ask students questions about the incidents. The guard several times pulled to the side of the road and told students being interviewed they did not have to talk to the reporter.
“You can’t go around asking (questions),” said the security guard, who took down the reporter’s name, but refused to give hers.
“I can’t answer any questions about it,” said one female student approached before the security guard appeared. “I’m sorry.”
One male student jogging with several others said: “They haven’t disclosed even what it is.” A teacher at the school who was with them added: “We’re still in the midst of it at school.”
When the security guard came the group left, the same response as in two other cases.
That your poster? TFC. No one understood the trauma of youth like Roger Corman- and no one expressed it like Dick Miller.
purple haze... is in my brain
" The alleged hazing at Kittredge II involved at least partial nudity, multiple sources said. The alleged behavior included assigning the younger girls risque nicknames and using an object on them to simulate oral sex, several sources said. "
This would have never happened under Clinton!
“We’re extremely disappointed in what’s happened here at our school,” said Douglas J. Dickson, dean of students at the college-preparatory school whose alumni include FBI Director Robert Mueller, Democratic Presidential nominee John F. Kerry and cartoonist Garry Trudeau.
Fine upstanding citizens all....
Coeds being abused is these ways:
Simulated ..."
Partial nudity?
Being forced to find the yellow pieces of glitter?
Let's forget about Darfur and throw all of our energies into this pressing matter. We should review the films of these unspeakable atrocities [some parts in slow-mo, rewind, play, repeat] and see what should be done about this...
How about sex offense crimes? These hazers are PERPS!
One can only be thankful that these girls were not subjected to the supreme indignity of being forced to wear the dreaded panty hat.
Picures needed to properly judge the situation. (Over 18 year old picutures).
BTW, "using an object to simulate oral sex on the younger students"?
Drawing a blank here. Any suggestions?
A pink-lemonade Popsicle?
Maybe a Strawberry Wobbler. If you don't know what that is, check out Terry Pratchett's Disk World cookbook.
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