News Summary
A former freshman football player and his family have filed a federal lawsuit against Ursuline High School, alleging serious misconduct including hazing, sexual assault, and child pornography involving the school’s football team. The lawsuit details incidents that occurred during a team trip and claims that coaches were aware yet failed to intervene. The school has started an internal investigation and taken disciplinary actions against some students. The allegations raise significant questions about the school’s culture and accountability.
Youngstown, Ohio – A former freshman football player and his family have filed a federal lawsuit against Ursuline High School, alleging serious misconduct including hazing, sexual assault, and the distribution of child pornography involving members of the school’s football team. The lawsuit has been submitted to the U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio and cites incidents that occurred during a nine-day team trip in June that included visits to various states, including Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
The plaintiff claims to have endured intense initiation rituals associated with the team’s alleged hazing culture. Reports indicate that he was subjected to attacks, assaults, and stripped by multiple teammates, with some of these assaults being recorded and shared among team members using the group’s Snapchat account.
According to the lawsuit, coaches were reportedly aware of the ongoing hazing events yet failed to intervene or take any protective measures, leading to further accusations of a cover-up culture and intimidation within the football program. The victim’s attorney has highlighted the profound trauma that the plaintiff has suffered as a result of these alleged incidents.
In response to the lawsuit, Ursuline High School canceled an upcoming football game against Farrell scheduled for September 5. The administration emphasized that the safety and well-being of all students remain a top priority and announced that they are cooperating fully with ongoing investigations related to the allegations. Following the filing of a formal report regarding the incidents, Ursuline High School launched an internal investigation into the matter.
As part of the inquiry, disciplinary actions have been taken against some students involved while others voluntarily exited the football program before potential further disciplinary actions could take place. In an effort to enhance student safety, the school has increased the presence of chaperones during events and initiated mandatory training sessions.
The lawsuit claims a history of hazing incidents affiliated with the school and underscores a lack of accountability from the school administration regarding the students’ safety. Defendants named in the lawsuit include the principal, assistant principal, head football coach, two assistant coaches, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, and eleven unidentified football players. The allegations brought forth encompass a range of serious charges including criminal hazing, sexual assault, aggravated assault, battery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, stalking, child pornography, and telecommunications harassment.
Furthermore, the lawsuit asserts that the administration had a legal obligation to protect students from foreseeable harms and failed to uphold that duty. Reports also indicate that the plaintiff’s sister allegedly faced intimidation from football players, leading her to leave Ursuline before completing her senior year. Details emerging from the complaint reveal that some documented incidents included students boasting about their actions as well as discussions planning further attacks.
Concerns have been voiced among members of the Ursuline High School community regarding the serious nature of these allegations, which implicate the integrity of the school’s football program and its culture. Current investigations by the Youngstown Police Department are also underway to explore the allegations presented in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit paints a troubling picture of how hazing and sexual assault may have become entrenched within the school’s football culture and highlights significant failures in oversight and responsibility by school administrators. The outcome of this lawsuit and the concurrent investigations holds potential implications not only for those directly involved but also for the broader school community.
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