Silke Jasso
Nine Texas high school students were arrested in connection to a hazing scandal that allegedly involved male athletes sexually assaulting male victims with soda bottles, broomsticks, deodorant, steel pipes and even baseball bats. After rounding up seven juvenile students, police arrested two adult students on Monday. Several graduate students are “persons of interest” in the ongoing investigation.
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The hazing allegedly happened on school property during the 2016-2017 and 2015-2016 school years. So far, police have identified 10 alleged victims and expect more to come forward. The hazing primarily involved football players at La Vernia High School in La Vernia, near San Antonio.
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“It’s a black eye for the city,” La Vernia Chief of Police Bruce Ritchey said. “What I’m concerned with right now is providing the help and healing for those victimized.”
The mother of one victim, who asked not to be identified, said that her son was held down in the locker room and sexually assaulted with a number of items while someone acted as a lookout for coaches and school officials.
“Kids were holding them down in the locker rooms,” she said, adding that she knew something was wrong when her son abruptly stopped attending practice. “There was a lookout at the door watching for coaches not to come. They hold them down and stick various items up their rectum […] including Coke bottles, deodorant bottles, steel pipes, baseball bats and broomsticks.”
La Vernia Police back on high school campus @News4SA @KABBFOX29 pic.twitter.com/bEhS9ueT2n
— Breanna Barrs (@breannabarrs) March 27, 2017
Jose Moreno, superintendent of the La Vernia Independent School District, said the news has “crushed the spirit” of the community.
“I ask that we unite and focus on recovering through this challenging time together,” Moreno wrote on the district’s Facebook page. “I encourage you to be thoughtful before posting negative comments on various social media outlets that may be hurtful to students, staff, and community members. Let’s instead use it as a tool to communicate our true identity and tell a story of our wonderful students and their accomplishments.”
School administrators and athletic department heads are implementing additional ways for students to report such concerns or receive counseling.
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