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Alleged Hazing Baffles Mephan [Long Island, NY] Residents
Newsday.com ^ | September 14, 2003 (Sunday) | Ann Givens

Posted on 09/14/2003 7:25:59 AM PDT by First_Salute

When Michelle Davis heard two women at a Bellmore nail salon describe a recent alleged sex abuse incident by Mepham High School football team as "kids getting carried away," she threw up her hands so fast she nearly smudged her still-fresh manicure.

"Carried away?," the Bellmore resident shouted. "These kids are criminals! They should go to prison!"

Less than a week after members of the football team were accused of sodomizing younger players at a preseason camp in Pennsylvania with what a source close to a victim said was a broomstick, there is both nervous chatter and uncomfortable silence on the streets of Bellmore and Merrick.

Many adults turned their backs on questions about the alleged incident, saying the community has been humiliated enough. [snip]

"It's so horrifying there aren't even words," said Linda Fishman, 47, of Merrick, who was running errands yesterday. "I sent my son to wrestling camp this March. After this, I'm not sure I would do that again." [snip]


But Alison Humphreys, 17, and her friend Jesse Ganzer, 18, who both graduated from Bellmore's John F. Kennedy High School recently, said they weren't surprised by what allegedly happened. They said even the Kennedy drama club, of which they were members, had terrible verbal hazing rituals. At the annual cast party at the end of the year, the younger students were singled out and ridiculed about their appearances and personalities. Sometimes the verbal abuse became homophobic and racist, they said. [snip]

(The same page has a Newsday.com columnist's article (link) entitled, "Searching for Grownups.")

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: abuse; gay; homophile; homophobic; kids; lesbian; schooldramaclub
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Astonishing example of serious rot ---the twists through which the definitions of "guidance," "grownups," and "violence" are forced.

In all the above, for the two young ladies of "the Kennedy drama club" (late), and for their many supporters (the Gay and Lesbian Axis), what is and what is not "hazing" is the fine line between a broomstick handle and a forearm hand.

If the football players had used the latter instead of the former, the ladies of "the Kennedy drama club" (late) would be defining everybody else who is ALARMED! by the above "violence," as being "homophobic."

The case rests on a broomstick, or on a fist, if you prefer.

"Grownups" are nowhere to be found, except the brave, "Linda Fishman, 47, of Merrick."

1 posted on 09/14/2003 7:26:00 AM PDT by First_Salute
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To: joanie-f; snopercod
Bump.
2 posted on 09/14/2003 7:26:28 AM PDT by First_Salute
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To: First_Salute
It would have been rape in any case.The broomstick is a serial killer signature and then there was Louima...These kids are sick,sick,sick.
3 posted on 09/14/2003 7:32:34 AM PDT by MEG33
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To: MEG33
Have they been suspended yet? All I heard so far was that they were suspended from the football team until a student makes a formal written statement about the alleged crime.

In addition I believe the sports program should be shut down immediately until the "kids" cooperate with authorities. That will get them talking real fast. Homecoming is insignificant compared to what went on here. Should be cancelled.
4 posted on 09/14/2003 7:36:21 AM PDT by alisasny
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To: First_Salute
This is a prime example of why I no longer coach sports.

A few years ago I was hired as a coach of a High School soccer team as a non-teacher. During tryouts, I was astounded to arrive one day to see 3 seniors holding down a much smaller sophomore while one of them pulled down his pants and underwear and proceeded to sit his bare butt right on the kids face. I immediately dismissed the offender from the team. While I had backing from my Athletic Director, I caught a lot of heat from teachers and other parents who kept asking for me to reinstate the psycho who thought this was an acceptable ritual. They came to me with all sorts of excuses:"He has good grades", "He has a broken home", "He's viewed as a prankster", etc.

I stuck to my guns---but it remained a distraction for the entire season.

For the record, this was NOT something that was a regular occurance as initiation in years prior. For teachers to defend and excuse that behavior is a statement of our culture today.

5 posted on 09/14/2003 7:43:58 AM PDT by Sam's Army
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To: Sam's Army
This is so far above normal hazing. Its sexual assault. I would be very hard pressed to defend my child if he participated in anything like this. The community silence is just truly sickening me.
6 posted on 09/14/2003 7:47:18 AM PDT by alisasny
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To: alisasny
"This is so far above normal hazing. Its sexual assault."

You are absolutley correct. I had countered in my disagreements with the pillars of education in my situation above that this would be considered sexual assault if the situation was male on female as opposed to male on male.

It sickens me to see this defended even by silence.

7 posted on 09/14/2003 7:50:25 AM PDT by Sam's Army
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To: alisasny
A civil suit filed will get people talking.If I were a parent of a younger player,I'd pull my kid out until they do something.It is rape and the victims are going to be humiliated again in the investigation.Football is more important to the officials , many parents and kids than the criminals being brought to justice.
8 posted on 09/14/2003 7:51:40 AM PDT by MEG33
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To: First_Salute
Disgusting Children...Mom and Dad must be proud.
9 posted on 09/14/2003 7:55:17 AM PDT by Dallas59
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To: alisasny
The community isn't being silent. They just don't want to talk to the idiot reporters from Newsday. Newsday is a liberal cesspool. It's well known for twisting the words of the people they interview so rational people, who don't feel the need to grandstand, avoid them like the plague. Believe me, people are horrified and are eagerly awaiting the arrest of these animals.
This is the school my son would now be attending if I hadn't sent him to a private school. One reason I did so is that bullying is a major problem. Big changes are coming down the pike for the school district and it's about time.
10 posted on 09/14/2003 8:01:44 AM PDT by CaptainK
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To: alisasny
Apparently kids said they were told by the school district that they would be suspended if they talked about it, which is a violation of the first amendment rights and wouldn't be upheld in court. Of course, this hasn't stopped some kids talking to the press anonomously.

Sounds like this town has a lot to hide.
11 posted on 09/14/2003 8:02:48 AM PDT by ladylib
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To: First_Salute
Let me post a small description of a society in decay:
The profound recoil against the mechanization of life, the wholesale attack on bourgeois morals, the emphasis on nudity and sexual license, the affinity for anarchist tactics, the search for exotic states of mind and exotic forms of dress, the yearning for pastoral freedom, communal living and generational solidarity, above all...the cult of the irrational – all of these features of the revolt we are now witnessing were crucial to the Expressionist program.
--Hilton Kramer, “E.L. Kirchner: Art vs. Life”, The New York Times, April 6, 1969
The above piece was not describing American society, but the Weimar Republic in Germany immediately before the rise of Naziism.

I predict that the American kids that did the above sodomizing will have a great future as politicians, just like the kids in Germany did.

12 posted on 09/14/2003 8:29:31 AM PDT by snopercod ("leader" is English for "führer")
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To: First_Salute
Thsi is crazy.

When are parents going to take their kids back?

These kids need to be in prison.
13 posted on 09/14/2003 8:33:46 AM PDT by freekitty
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To: ladylib
That's not true. Nobody was threated with suspension. There were kids interviewed by a local TV station in full view of the administrators.
14 posted on 09/14/2003 9:21:53 AM PDT by CaptainK
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To: ladylib
That's not true. Nobody was threated with suspension. There were kids interviewed by a local TV station in full view of the administrators.
15 posted on 09/14/2003 9:21:53 AM PDT by CaptainK
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To: ladylib
That's not true. Nobody was threated with suspension. There were kids interviewed by a local TV station in full view of the administrators.
16 posted on 09/14/2003 9:21:53 AM PDT by CaptainK
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To: alisasny
This is so far above normal hazing. Its sexual assault.

Oh please! This is nothing more than boys being boys. This country has so gone off its rocker. It may have been over the top - but bring criminal charges!

17 posted on 09/14/2003 9:30:10 AM PDT by BJungNan
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To: CaptainK
Here's the article:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-litalk143454375sep14,0,2465120.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines
18 posted on 09/14/2003 2:09:51 PM PDT by ladylib
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To: BJungNan
Sodomy is boys being boys?
19 posted on 09/14/2003 2:13:32 PM PDT by ladylib
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To: BJungNan
"This is nothing more than boys being boys"

You either forgot the sarcasm tag, or you have a serious problem.

20 posted on 09/14/2003 2:46:26 PM PDT by Sam's Army
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