Jump to content

The Cadets and GH history of sexual abuse (news article)


Recommended Posts

Surprised this hasn't been posted yet. Or maybe it has and has been removed? Regardless...

 

BREAKING A LONG SILENCE

Allentown’s Cadets are among the world’s best drum corps, and their director is a big reason why. But nine women now accuse him of sexual abuse and harassment spanning four decades.

By Tricia L. Nadolny

April 5, 2018

 

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/cadets-drum-bugle-corps-george-hopkins-sexual-abuse-harrassment-allentown-pennsylvania.html

 

 

========= Index of relevant updates, news, tweets, links [STILL in progress] ======== 

BEFORE GETTING TO THE LONG LIST OF NEWS, PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION HOTLINE THAT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR SURVIVING VICTIMS.
 

Quote

Chicago law firm Franczek Radelet is answering the YEA Hotline listening and investigating misconduct claims. If you have something to share call 312–786-6540.

 

 

(thanks for the help @Liahona)

Original YEA board members at the time of the report

Chronology of Philly.com

Original Article (4/4/2018): The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps: A history of alleged sexual abuse
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/cadets-drum-bugle-corps-george-hopkins-sexual-abuse-harrassment-allentown-pennsylvania.html 

4/6/2018 George Hopkins, longtime director of the Cadets drum corps, resigns after sexual misconduct allegations
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/cadets-drum-bugle-corps-george-hopkins-resigns-sexual-abuse-harassment-allentown-pennsylvania-20180406.html

4/6/2018 Who are the Cadets? What to know about the drum corps dealing with sexual misconduct allegations

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/cadets-george-hopkins-drum-corps-sexual-misconduct-20180406.html 

4/9/2018 Sexual abuse in drum and bugle corps: Do you have a story?

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/drum-and-bugle-corps-sexual-assault-harassment-george-hopkins-share-story-20180409.html 

4/11/2018 Cadets drum corps board resigns en masse amid sexual misconduct scandal

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/cadets-drum-bugle-corps-board-resignation-allentown-george-hopkins-20180411.html 

4/11/2018 Board that oversees renowned drum corps resigns 

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/nation/20180411_ap_1c4e22b4585048d388bc2cc1d40cf815.html 

4/11/2018 Two more women say they were raped by Cadets' George Hopkins

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/cadets-sexual-harassment-drum-corps-george-hopkins-rape-20180411.html 

4/12/2018 Replacement for disgraced Cadets leader George Hopkins forced to step down himself 

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/cadets-drum-corps-george-hopkins-sean-king-sexual-misconduct-20180412.html 

4/12/2018 Director of renowned drum corps out days after appointment 

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/pennsylvania/20180412_ap_64aed67067a04f3e9649d49e28ea0354.html 

4/13/2018 Correction: Drum Corps Leader-Abuse Allegations story 

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/20180413_ap_64aed67067a04f3e9649d49e28ea0354.html 

4/13/2018 Critic: I warned drum corps executive about George Hopkins

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/george-hopkins-cadets-dan-acheson-drum-corps-sexual-misconduct-20180413.html 

5/1/2018 Penn cancels plans with Cadets drum corps following sexual misconduct allegations against director (DCI show, rehearsal and YEA fall show)


YEA.org Responses:

Statement from the Board of Directors of Youth Education in the Arts  

https://yea.org/news/2003-statement-from-the-board-of-directors-of-youth-education-in-the-arts 

A Message from YEA! 

https://yea.org/news/2004-a-message-from-yea 

Healing and the Future

https://yea.org/news/2005-healing-and-the-future 

YEA! Board of Directors Resigns, New Board to Guide Organization

https://yea.org/news/2008-yea-board-of-directors-resigns-interim-board-to-guide-organization 

04/24/2018 - USBands Announces "Forward March!" Initiative (advisory board)

https://yea.org/news/2015-usbands-announces-forward-march-initiative


DCI.org Responses:

DCI update: 4/6/2018 

https://www.dci.org/news/dci-update-462018 

4/7/2018 Ensuring a safe and educationally appropriate drum corps experience 

https://www.dci.org/news/ensuring-a-safe-and-educationally-appropriate-drum-corps-experience 

4/11/2018 DCI action on YEA! participation in 2018 Summer Tour

https://www.dci.org/news/dci-action-on-yea-participation-in-2018-summer-tour 

4/29/2018 Cadets to forgo west coast portion of 2018 tour

https://www.dci.org/news/cadets-to-forgo-west-coast-portion-of-2018-tour

 

DCP Thread with continual updates of corps responses:

http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/index.php?/topic/168300-corps-responses-to-inquirer-article/

 

WFMZ.com

4/5/2018 w/ update 4/6/2018: 9 women accuse Allentown cadets director of sexual misconduct

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/9-women-accuse-allentown-cadets-director-of-sexual-misconduct/725650204 

4/6/2018 Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations

http://www.wfmz.com/news/ap-top-stories/renowned-drum-corps-leader-resigns-amid-abuse-allegations/725987076 

4/6/2018 Details on: Cadets Director Resigns

http://www.wfmz.com/news/weekday-newsletter-headlines/details-on-cadets-director-resigns-car-crashes-into-bedroom-and-berks-jazz-fest/726015535 

4/6/2018 Allentown Cadets director resigns amid allegations of sexual misconduct

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/allentown-cadets-director-resigns-amid-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct/725872116 

4/6/2018 w/ update 4/7/2018 George Hopkins not the only Allentown Cadets 2018 departure

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/george-hopkins-not-the-only-allentown-cadets-2018-departure/726258327 

4/6/2018 Drum Corps, accusers respond to Hopkins' resignation

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/drum-corps-accusers-respond-to-hopkins-resignation/726131345 

4/6/2018  VIDEO: More on George Hopkins' resignation

http://www.wfmz.com/news/video-more-on-george-hopkins-resignation/726117804 

4/7/2018 Online Petition Calls For YEA Board To Resign Amid Allegations

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/online-petition-calls-for-yea-board-to-resign-amid-allegations/726504071 

4/9/2018 Board's response to Cadets director's allegations met with petition

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/boards-response-to-cadets-directors-allegations-met-with-petition/727246133 

4/8/2018 w/ update 4/9/2018 Organization issues new statement on allegations against ex-drum corps director

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/organization-issues-new-statement-on-allegations-against-ex-drum-corps-director/726861840 

4/10/2018 33-year-old woman says she was raped by former Allentown Cadets director

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/33-year-old-woman-says-she-was-raped-by-former-allentown-cadets-director/727712453 

4/11/2018 w/ update 4/13/2018 Allentown Cadets board resigns amid allegations against ex-drum corps director

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/allentown-cadets-board-resigns-amid-allegations-against-ex-drum-corps-director/728034992 

4/11/2018 New chairman of YEA board talks of moving forward amid allegations

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/new-chairman-of-yea-board-talks-of-moving-forward-amid-allegations/728263497 

4/12/2018 YEA! interim CEO suspended amid new allegations

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/yea-interim-ceo-suspended-amid-new-allegations/728766860 

4/12/2018 YEA suspends interim CEO after claims he did not report alleged misconduct

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/yea-suspends-interim-ceo-after-claims-he-did-not-report-alleged-misconduct/728602105 

4/16/2018 w/ update 4/17/2018 Investigation underway into YEA! amid sexual allegations

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/investigation-underway-into-yea-amid-sexual-allegations/730481972 

4/19/2018 Fired! YEA board denies ex-director's resignation, fires him amid misconduct allegations

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/fired-yea-board-denies-ex-directors-resignation-fires-him-amid-misconduct-allegations/731734892

4/19/2018 New twists appear in relation to former Cadets Director George Hopkins

http://www.wfmz.com/news/lehigh-valley/new-twists-appear-in-relation-to-former-cadets-director-george-hopkins/731884256

mcall.com (The Morning Call)

4/6/2018 Who are Allentown's Cadets? Drum Corps International group was featured on "Clash of the Corps"

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-history-of-the-allentown-cadets-drum-bugle-corps-20180406-story.html 

4/6/2018 Statement from Youth Education in the Arts board on Allentown Cadets director resignation

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-allentown-cadets-board-statement-20180406-story.html 

4/6/2018 Allentown Cadets director resigns amid sexual misconduct allegations

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-allentown-cadets-director-george-hopkins-resigns20180406-story.html 

4/9/2018 New statement from Youth in Education in the Arts on Allentown Cadets director's resignation

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-allentown-cadets-george-hopkins-second-statement-20180409-story.html 

4/9/2018 Allentown Cadets board apologizes for not acknowledging women's claims of sexual misconduct against ex-director

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-yea-issues-second-george-hopkins-statement-cadets-sex-misconduct-20180409-story.html 

4/11/2018 Entire board of Allentown Cadets resigns; new chairman calls sexual misconduct allegations 'disturbing and shocking'

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-yea-cadets-board-resigns-new-chairman-20180411-story.html 

4/12/2018 Interim CEO for The Cadets' parent organization suspended

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-george-hopkins-cadets-sex-scandal-interim-ceo-suspended-20180412-story.html 

4/13/2018 Allentown Cadets put on probation for summer marching season

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-allentown-cadets-probation-20180413-story.html 

4/14/2018 Accuser of ex-Allentown Cadets director says she'd "pay the price" if she didn't give in to demands for sex

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-kim-carter-cadets-hopkins-20180412-story.html 

4/16/2018 Chicago labor law firm to investigate sexual misconduct claims at drum corps organization

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-yea-board-investigation-20180416-story.html 

4/20/2018 Finding no resignation letter, YEA board fired Hopkins with no severance

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-nws-youth-education-arts-rutherford-20180418-story.html

 

Indianapolis Star

4/6/2018 Indy-based Drum Corps International investigating sexual misconduct allegations

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2018/04/06/indy-based-drum-corps-international-investigating-sexual-misconduct-allegations/492909002/

 

Crossmen Alumni email

4/17/2018 - George Hopkins revoked from Crossmen Hall of Fame

https://i.redd.it/5a58wvnmoks01.jpg (IMAGE)

TWITTER (tweets that have been turned into published news articles have generally been omitted)

Jaccii Farris of WFMZ 

https://twitter.com/Jaccii/

4/16/2018 - YEA website hacked

https://twitter.com/Jaccii/status/985998814002794496

4/19/2018 -  YEA fires GH. No severance or benefits

https://twitter.com/Jaccii/status/986999262742499328

4/19/2018 -  GH notified to return assets, including vehicle. Next Steps, recovery

https://twitter.com/Jaccii/status/986999633938407427

4/19/2018 - YEA establishes victim hotline 312–786-6540

https://twitter.com/Jaccii/status/986999937656414208

 

Tricia L Nadolny of philly.com

https://twitter.com/TriciaNadolny

4/10/2018 Commentary thread on initial feedback

https://twitter.com/TriciaNadolny/status/983687306640084992

4/16/2018  YEA law firm investigation

https://twitter.com/TriciaNadolny/status/985870964310335489

4/16/2018 Thread on interview with Doug Rutherford. (communicating with victims, Kristy Templin resigned, abandoning original 2018 show.

https://twitter.com/TriciaNadolny/status/985909641451397125

4/16/2018 Asking who created the change.org petition

https://twitter.com/TriciaNadolny/status/985930624715370498

4/27/2018 Company car and computer returned to YEA

https://twitter.com/TriciaNadolny/status/989970182796922882

 

This has been done to keep the topic open, easier to understand and moving forward. Warnings we have received from moderators:

  • No rumor mongering.
  • Don't diverge into off topic nostalgia and bickering about RAMD history.
  • Don't get into extended debates about Penn State or Michigan State situations.
Edited by mingusmonk
  • Like 1
  • Thanks 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Came here for the first time in a long time, was similarly surprised that you had just posted this. As I mentioned elsewhere, I doubt that this is a problem limited to the Cadets, and I hope that our entire activity does some deep soul searching on this matter. I hope that every incidence is completely and fairly investigated, and any proven offenders are punished severely, including lifetime bans from the activity. 

Anything less than that could mean the end of our activity. 

  • Like 1
  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Was just reading the article, not wanting to be the one who dropped the bomb here on DCP. 

Shocked, disheartened, sickened.... Doesn't begin to cover it.

The ramifications of this....?  Jesus.

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote

 

"The YEA board took the matter seriously from the moment it received the anonymous allegations in January,” the board said in a statement. “Though the board hired a law firm to investigate and pursued every reasonable avenue of inquiry available, no accusers came forward and no evidence was presented to support the allegations against its executive director.”

Asked to elaborate on what the firm's investigation entailed, the board declined.

 

Board of Directors

Michael Kehoss, Minneapolis, MN | Chairman
Tim Smith, Pittsburgh, PA | Treasurer
Brian Setzer, Nashville, TN | Secretary
Dirk Bernold, Rochester, NY
Ronald IngberDix Hills, NY
Gary Stromberg, Chatham, NJ

Dr. Edward DiCarlo, New York, NY
Roger Floreska, Baldwin, NY
Howard Hoffman, Kendall Park, NJ
Donald Staffin, Bridgewater, NJ
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can't see him surviving this story as director of Cadets and CEO of YEA. 

Also, I would be surprised if this doesn't ring true with other co-workers and former Cadets...

Finally, one wonders about enablers.

Very sad for all involved, and this will be tough not only on the Cadets, but Dan Acheson and DCI.

 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I didn’t want to be the poster. Knew it was coming 

  • Like 8
  • Sad 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Ghost said:

One thread on this topic has been closed.  This one could also be shut down.

The other thread was closed because it was a duplicate.  I think, as long as the discussion continues to follow DCP guidelines, there is no reason why THIS thread will need to be closed.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

13 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:

I didn’t want to be the poster. Knew it was coming 

If the allegations are true and with all the other charges by other women for many months, one can only imagine how GH and possibly others have been feeling these many months/years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...