Recent allegations of hazing and sexual assault made by a high school football player have sparked a federal civil rights lawsuit against Ursuline High School in Youngstown, Ohio. The allegations, which have drawn media attention and sparked concern among educators and parents, stem from a series of incidents that occurred during a football camp held in June. The lawsuit, filed by the Chandra Law Firm, claims that a freshman football player was subjected to violent assaults and bullying during the camp, with instances being recorded and shared on Snapchat. This incident has raised serious questions about the safety and well-being of students in organized athletic programs.
The lawsuit details that the plaintiff, a freshman on the football team, was allegedly sexually assaulted on the first night of the trip by one player, with another player accused of filming the assault and uploading it to the team’s group Snapchat. The alleged hazing and bullying continued, with the plaintiff reporting being assaulted again on the fourth day of the camp when he was restrained and stripped until he was completely exposed. These incidents were again filmed and shared with the same group on Snapchat. The complaint alleges that school officials failed to respond adequately to the plaintiff’s complaints, dismissing the allegations as mere ‘boys being boys’ and not taking meaningful disciplinary action against the perpetrators. This failure to address the concerns has been a focal point of the lawsuit, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in school administration.
The mother of the plaintiff first raised the allegations to an assistant coach on June 16, during the camp, but the coach reportedly dismissed the assault allegations, stating ‘just boys being boys.’ The mother then met with school officials after her son returned home, claiming that the officials showed no regret, remorse, or compassion. The lawsuit also alleges that the school failed to conduct an investigation or take meaningful disciplinary action against the players or coaches, despite being presented with evidence of misconduct. Furthermore, the family alleges that they faced retaliation after coming forward with the complaints, adding to the severity of the situation. The lawsuit also includes charges of Title IX violations, false imprisonment, stalking, child pornography, and distributing lewd and obscene materials, indicating the breadth of the violations alleged against the defendants.
In response to the allegations, Ursuline High School and the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown have stated that a police investigation into the allegations is ongoing, and that both the school and diocese representatives have cooperated with the investigation. A spokesperson from the school emphasized that the safety and well-being of students is the school’s top priority, and that disciplinary actions have been imposed against some of the students directly involved. However, the school added that some students had left the school before any discipline could be imposed. To prevent such incidents in the future, the school has implemented increased chaperone presence and mandatory training reviews as a result of the allegations. The football team’s game on Friday was also canceled following the news of the civil case. These measures reflect the school’s acknowledgment of the serious nature of the allegations and the need for systemic improvements to ensure student safety and prevent similar incidents in the future.