News Summary
A federal lawsuit has been lodged against Ursuline High School by a former freshman football player alleging hazing, sexual assault, and distribution of child pornography during a team trip. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio, claims a culture of hazing within the football program led to traumatic incidents for the player. The school has canceled its upcoming football game and is cooperating with investigations, while concerns regarding the team’s culture and administrative negligence have escalated within the community.
Youngstown, Ohio – A federal lawsuit has been filed against Ursuline High School by a former freshman football player and his family, alleging serious misconduct, including hazing, sexual assault, and the distribution of child pornography. The lawsuit, which was submitted to the U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio, stems from events that transpired during a nine-day team trip in June, involving destinations in Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama.
The lawsuit accuses the football team’s members of initiating the player through hazardous rituals that are part of an alleged hazing culture. According to the complaint, several teammates attacked, assaulted, and stripped the player, while some instances were recorded and subsequently disseminated via the team’s group Snapchat.
Attorney Subodh Chandra, representing the player and his family, stated that the lawsuit presents a comprehensive account of the alleged infractions against the plaintiffs. The student involved claims to have endured significant trauma from the reported sexual assault and humiliation during the trip. In light of the allegations, Ursuline High School has canceled its scheduled football game against Farrell on September 5. The school has asserted that the safety and welfare of its students remain a top priority, and it is cooperating with ongoing investigations.
The school’s administration has acknowledged that an investigation was initiated after the family formally reported the incidents. Following the report, disciplinary measures were taken against some students, while others reportedly chose to leave the football program voluntarily prior to further disciplinary action being applied. To enhance student safety, the school has implemented a greater chaperone presence and mandatory training programs.
The lawsuit specifies that this was not an isolated incident and accuses the school administration of failing to hold accountable students involved in previous hazing occurrences. The document identifies various defendants including the principal, assistant principal, head football coach, two assistant coaches, the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, and 11 unnamed football players. The allegations encompass a range of serious offenses such as criminal hazing, sexual assault, aggravated assault, battery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, stalking, child pornography, and telecommunications harassment.
Moreover, the plaintiffs claim that Ursuline administration had a fundamental responsibility to safeguard students against foreseeable harm but failed to meet this duty. It has been reported that the alleged victim’s sister faced intimidation by members of the football team, which ultimately led her to withdraw from Ursuline before her senior year.
Details in the complaint reveal disturbing instances where students boasted about their actions, and others deliberately planned assaults. The lawsuit also highlights perceived negligence in hiring and supervising coaches, connecting these issues to a troubling history of misconduct within the football program.
In the wake of these allegations, members of the Ursuline High School community have expressed their worries regarding the state of their football program and the implications of these serious claims. Concurrently, the Youngstown Police Department has launched an investigation to delve deeper into the allegations presented in the lawsuit.
As the legal process unfolds, the focus remains on the troubling culture within the football program and the systemic failures that may have allowed such incidents to occur. The outcome of the lawsuit and ongoing investigations will likely have significant ramifications for both the school and its community.
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