Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind and a few breaks in the clouds overnight. His arrival was fortuitous, because the Cadets were in crisis - lacking staff, [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. 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. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by nearly a dozen women, pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation in Lehigh County Court on Thursday. 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. There was upset from some people, as you can see, and others saw the progression as an effort to maintain the Cadets as an organization steeped in tradition but also very, very progressive when it came to new ideas, new concepts, and fresh presentations. ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. Hopkins attended Wednesdays proceeding but did not address the court. 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. Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Falk said the woman in the 2008 allegation decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that.. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer 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. and USBands affects the lives of tens of thousands of students each year and I feel humbled to have played a small part in that. as of March 31, 2020. Hopkins had been suing YEA for $650,000 in severance, vacation and expenses. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The women who accused Hopkins of harassment ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. Im angry. [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"). This is the performing arts, you dont need to be like this.. Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. But this isnt the military. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Casper Star-Tribune. 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. ; Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00, United States Scholastic Band Association, "corpsreps.com The Drum Corps Repertoire Database", "Determination: Believing in the Midwest Combine", "Bang the Drum Slowly: A Championship Drum and Bugle Corps Leaves the State", "The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps: A history of alleged sexual abuse", "Statement from the Board of Directors of Youth Education in the Arts", "YEA! The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. Her husband, based on everything hes heard about drum corps from Connell, says he wouldnt let any of their children march. She said Hopkins words on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 were a constant source of anxiety. Success! One possible side effect of the frigid temps? She said the memories can, at times, still knock the wind out of me, but I get up., I dont just get up and go to work to hide my pain and put the abuse behind me, she wrote. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. You have permission to edit this article. In a fast-paced competitive environment like the Troopers, Calhoun said his mental illness problems soon led to physical injuries. On July 4, 1986 the Cadets performed as a part of the Liberty Weekend celebrating both the hundredth anniversary and the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. George Hopkins, the director of The Cadets, talks about the 2017 show, "The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven." George talks about the process of designing the show, the use of the singers, the three different uniforms worn by the corps, and about the issues the activity is facing around amplification Morning call file photo/Special to The Morning Call, Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge calls him disgusting, Trump supporters who drove Hummer with guns and ammo to Philadelphia vote-counting site spared more jail time, Paul Muschick: Would money motivate Pennsylvania businesses to move to a four-day work week? [21] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance. Hopkins was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown in 2008. Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. 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. 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. But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. "I just kept saying no, don't do this, I don't want to do this," said Marie, who said she went by her middle name at work. 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. 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. They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli GH doesnt love the CADET Organisation he made himself an empire..to support him with his RV and 200K salary plus all the other extras.Laughing at everyone all the way to the bank.. Laura Masker I am not disagreeing with you as far as GH is concerned. The women are among roughly a dozen connected to the Cadets organization who say they were sexually assaulted by Hopkins dating back to the 1980s. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! I felt so used.". All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. George Hopkins, the former director of Allentown's famed Cadets drum corps, was charged Tuesday with sexually assaulting two former employees, another striking turn in what had been an illustrious, four-decade-long career that took Hopkins to the top of the national youth activity. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. that title. Consent matters.. Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home. But no one is irreplaceable. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. GEORGE HOPKINS 1983 - present George Hopkins, better known as "Hop" to his friends and marching Cadets, is the current Director of our corps, as well as the longest serving (25 years and still going strong). Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On, Shania Twain 'uncontrollably fragile' after husband's affair, 48 Hours: Natalie Morales Reveals How Social Media Helped Solve Case, Uriah Heep believe they have 'some merit' to be considered for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry, Amanda Seyfried wants to a role in movie version of Mean Girls: The Musical, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joins Nosferatu remake. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. As one of the only returning baritones, he was offered the section head spot by Jackson but turned it down I thought I didnt deserve it.. [2][3], In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. 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.
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