Parents: School board overreacted over hazing
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- Board members reaffirmed hazing, bullying and intimidation of any kind won't be tolerated during a meeting inside Central Bucks High School in Doylestown, Bucks County Tuesday night.
But parents told the board it overreacted as they defended the football program and its coaching staff.
Central Bucks High West football players and supporters listened and disagreed as their board gave detailed student accounts learned so far in the district's hazing investigation.
"The misconduct including inappropriate physical contact in an intimidating and humiliating nature that lead to the suspension was is not trivial as some has suggested and was certainly not harmless," Central Bucks School Board President Paul Faulkner said.
Last week, the district cancelled the rest of the season when it found out seniors gave freshman and sophomore rookies initiations during a preseason parent sponsored picnic in August.
The alleged hazing included haircuts, powder thrown on wet players in the locker room, and another act students called "waterboarding".
"Rookies had a towel placed over their heads and water was poured over them in the shower. All of this occurred with the players fully clothed. The last activity was called 'slap it, lick it, grab it or fondle it," Central Bucks Superintendent David Weitzel said.
The coaching staff was suspended.
Head coach Brian Hensel and the rest of his coaches stood as one of their own, Coach Joe Wade, defended them.
"These are the times we live in. We do not condone this behavior. We teach them respect and teamwork," Wade said.
"That aggressive action had a ripple effect on the reputations of these coaches and these men," parent Jim Reichwein said.
"You hear the administrators saying they are developing a plan now. But it's too late now. It happened and it shouldn't have happened, but the punishment far outweighed the crime," parent Ed Shields said.
Coach Hensel called the incident isolated and said his staff never fostered a culture of hazing.
"I love my players. I love the parents and I love my coaches and I'm grateful for them," Hensel said.
The school board says it will turn over the findings of its ongoing internal investigation to the Bucks County district attorney who has asked players to come forward.
The district also says its code of conduct will be reviewed with all teams and locker room supervision will be discussed with all head coaches.
