7 Students at Sayerville High School in Parlin, New Jersey face sex crime charges from hazing incidents that saw the cancellation of their football teams' season. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer website Philly.com "The investigation found other teens were held against their will and touched in a sexual manner". I can tell you from personal experience that this is not an isolated incident. Hazing of freshmen happens at schools all over the U.S. and Canada. The difference is that the students in this case (or their parents) took their complaints to law enforcement. Most do not. Like rape victims, most of these incidents go unreported because of fear of repercussions or some messed up sense of normalcy (freshmen thinking that's what happens to everyone).

I am an American but I grew up in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. From 1978-1981 I attended M.E. Lazerte Composite High School. In Edmonton high school is only grades 10-12. In 10th grade when I was on the junior varsity football team I was the target of hazing. I was pinned down by 4 members of the senior football team and then had my pants pulled down while one of the other guys got what I believe was liquid shoe polish and drew a big Superman style S on my chest and then he blackballed me (covered my scrotum in black). It was unpleasant to say the least. I went home and never spoke of it again until now. Another player had some substance called "Wintergreen" poured down his backside and was screaming for 10 minutes from the pain. I bring these terrible old memories up because if you've heard about this story from New Jersey and think it can't happen here in Billings then you're wrong. If your kids play football then ask them about hazing. The best way to keep all of our kids safe is to make anyone who would think of participating in this activity know that your paying attention and to report all incidents of Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying or Hazing.

If you child has been victimized Billings Schools have provided a form for you to report such incidents that you can access by clicking here.

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