AG Says Massachusetts High School Let ‘Racist, Homophobic’ Hazing Go on for Years
The attorney general of Massachusetts has determined that an investigation into racist and homophobic behavior within the Danvers High School hockey team was completely fumbled by school authorities and local police.
“[Danvers Public School] District has agreed to take significant steps to improve its ability to prevent, investigate, and address hate and bias incidents, particularly in its athletics program,” the office of state Attorney General Maura Healey said in a statement Monday.
“DPSD failed to properly respond to several years of bullying and harassment in violation of the state’s Anti-Bullying Law, Student Antidiscrimination Act, and Fair Educational Practices Act,” the statement continued. “Players on the hockey team engaged in hazing rituals that involved racist, homophobic, and physically and sexually abusive behavior, which were part of a toxic team culture that developed and persisted because the varsity hockey coach failed to properly supervise the team.”