But I never said yes," said Linda Riley. With no 2020 drum corps season, Cadets Arts & Entertainment focused its attention on establishing clear policies, strict safeguards and strategic committees that meet regularly to help guide The Cadets forward. 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one day off per month. Board of Directors Resigns, New Board to Guide Organization", "Former drum corps director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault", "Finding no resignation letter, YEA board fired Hopkins with no severance", "DCI action on YEA! Never thought for once you were a liar!! ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. For more than 30 years, George Hopkins has been a major proponent of changes in instrumentation, education and contest guidelines, such as initiating the use of band instruments, electronics, removal of sidelines and other alternatives. There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. "And he did it anyway. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. [2][3][4], In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. ALLENTOWN, Pa. | The defense attorney for the former drum corps director accused of sexual assault is demanding that a newspaper turn over its unedited video interview of his clients accuser in order to prepare a proper defense. Calhoun marched in 2016 and 2017 before leaving the corps in July of his second year in the midst of mental and physical illness, compounded by the rigors of tour. Consent matters.. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Crews contend with tons of snow as they work to reopen I-80, Powell sisters die in crash with semi-truck, Long shifts, odd calls, brutal weather: inside the Wyoming Highway Patrol staffing shortage, Ex-Casper doctor imprisoned for sexually assaulting patients released years early, Lovell steps up after local sportswriter dies from car crash injuries. In his federal lawsuit seeking severance pay and other monies, Hopkins asserts that he resigned from the organization by letter on April 5, and that his departure was "mutually agreed"-upon. Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. I dont know a single person who marched drum corps and didnt have complaints.. 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For those of you who do not follow the drum corps news, George Hopkins recently resigned as the director of the Cadets because of sexual misconduct allegations from nine women. Hopkins had been suing YEA for $650,000 in severance, vacation and expenses. By Staff. reached a settlement in January 2019. CEO while denying the allegations. The Cadets from Allentown, Pennsylvania perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? On Friday, October 6, 2017, 10:08 PM, XXXX XXXX XXXX@XXXX.com wrote: This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately. In a high-profile case that came to light in 2018, a former director of the Allentown Cadets was accused of sexual misconduct ranging from verbal harassment to rape by 12 women, several of them former corps members. In 2003, Yea! Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. He began as Director in 1983 But this isnt the military. Defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom had previously filed a motion asking that The Philadelphia Inquirer provide the full and unedited video interview with one of Hopkins accusers that it had produced and published online. The decision to leave wasnt easy, especially since the messaging within the organization encourages members to deal with the hardships or be seen as weak. Morning Call reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder can be reached at 610-820-6506 or lmason@mcall.com. Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. "Dear George Hopkins, This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately. This time, people considered dramatic steps to change the face of the Cadets and for all time, to shift the trajectory of the most honored drum and bugle corps in history. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets and CEO of Youth Education in the Arts who separated from the organization after being accused of sexually harassing nine women, is suing YEA for more than $580,000 in severance pay. also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.[18]. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. for more than $650,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter-suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleges to have lost due to the sexual misconduct scandal. In the criminal case, prosecutors allege Hopkins, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, sexually assaulted a former employee at his Allentown apartment after they met at a bar to discuss drum corps rules. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. 39K subscribers in the drumcorps community. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. [6] The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. On the social media site Medium.com former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins writes: , Sexual assault charges have been filed against the former director of the famed Allentown Ca. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh. At one point, a staff member called members of his section worthless to their faces, because they couldnt march without passing out from untended injuries. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Free Access to this video! What is clear ---I need an assistant. Im angry. The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. Caren Blundetto-Frech This would be more appropriately titled as a BLACK SATURDAY sale . . Fifteen years before nine women stepped forward to accuse drum corps leader George Hopkins of sexual abuse, a long-time critic says he warned the director of the activity's governing body of questionable behavior by Hopkins, but was dismissed. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. For the rest of the force, that means longer hours and fewer days off while earning less than peers . First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. The group keeps up a grueling practice and travel schedule, performing throughout the United States. with the Cadets as DCI World Championsthe first eastern corps ever to hold After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. Calhoun ended up pulling a hamstring, but wasnt sent to a clinic for treatment. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! You have permission to edit this article. The amount of time and effort that is necessary to make certain USBands events are successful is astounding. Marie J DiDomenico Dont listen to them Steven, its the guard. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). The dozen women who accused Hopkins of harassment ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980. Its credits include the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, President Barack Obama's first inaugural parade, a reality TV show and "Late Night with David Letterman.". Exercise was often used as punishment for messing up. The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. But even after he was let go, Connell said he was still allowed around corps members who knew what had happened and had reported him to the administration because he was the organizations connection to the housing site where they were staying. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? 93 (Mvts. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. [22][23], At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. I am not a Trooper, Im just a sack of meat, just sitting on the ground being worthless.. An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. People are using more water. If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. He resigned his position in April 2018, but the YEA board rejected his resignation and fired him, citing the sexual misconduct allegations lodged against him. The judge opined that this situation is very different than, say, a defendants statement to police, a full copy of which would be made available to the defense by the prosecution. Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA! The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. The whistleblowers say they went public after receiving a feeble response from the Troopers legal team. Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets' parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. The defense maintains that the video is very different than what Beyer later told investigators and that the entire video is necessary to mount a proper defense. "This is a painful moment for all those who care about The Cadets," Youth Education in the Arts, the nonprofit that runs The Cadets, said in a statement on its website. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. Rescue operations underway as Wyoming blizzard continues to wreak havoc, Applications open for nonprofit 1-cent funding, Global race is on to improve EV range in the cold, Gordon discusses importance of focusing on Wyoming solutions, Moscow reportedly threatened new parents in Ukraine: Register your newborns as Russian or else, The impact of climate change will be felt worse in these three U.S. cities. In 1940, the Cadets won the American Legion Junior National Championship in Boston, the first of a record nine Legion titles the corps would win between 1940 and 1964. Hopkins, George. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. in May, stating they lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public. The judge did not issue a ruling from the bench on Bergstroms motion. Two additional women, including Beyer, came forward within days to say they were also victims. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. Watch this report from Action News at 4:30pm on April 6, 2018. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. Als u uw keuzes wilt aanpassen, klik dan op 'Privacyinstellingen beheren'. Taught numerous bands. Prosecutor Matthew Falk, the offices chef deputy district attorney, said Beyer, the woman in the allegation dating to 2008, decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that. The victim in the 2010 assault has asked not to be named.
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