No sexual misconduct during Hoffman Estates High hazing
BY ART GOLAB Staff Reporter/agolab@suntimes.com
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There was no sexual misconduct during a hazing incident involving the Hoffman Estate’s High School basketball team, school authorities said Monday after a weekend investigation.
On Friday, the team’s coach heard a report alleging that physical and sexual misconduct took place during an off-campus initiation ceremony that happened without the coach’s knowledge.
But an investigation conducted by 15 school district employees found “that the sexual misconduct initially reported did not occur,” according to a statement issued by Township High School District 211. The state Department of Children and Family Services will not take any action, the district said.
However the investigation did find that players “engaged in a clear pattern of initiation behaviors that violated the district’s hazing polices.”
Based on that finding, the district suspended the team from play for three games, forcing it to forfeit. The team will also get training in hazing awareness, its prevention and its impact, the district said.
The Hoffman Estates incident came to light after other hazing incidents were reported at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, alleging that sexual abuse took place.
