Follow More from Medium Mark. The Troopers arent the only prestigious drum corps hit with allegations in recent years. (CAE). Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Free Access to this video! Allentown Cadets hit hard financially by sexual misconduct scandal 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. Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. Hopkins is out on $50,000 bail. His arrival was fortuitous, because the Cadets were in crisis - lacking staff, Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from one victim who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010 at age 26, and who provided her account to The Inquirer in 2018. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. {{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. Two additional women, including Beyer, came forward within days to say they were also victims. Hopkins, the longtime director of the famed drum corps, resigned in April after nine women whose stories spanned four decades told the Inquirer and Daily News he had sexually harassed or abused them. he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. The Troopers and other corps under the Drum Corps International umbrella are now left to reckon with the allegations brought against them on a deeper level, beyond personnel. Two more women say they were raped by George Hopkins, bringing to 11 the number who have accused the former drum and bugle corps director of sexual misconduct. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. which will ALWAYS take priority over my work. The DCI.org interview: George Hopkins 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. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by nine women in a 2018 Inquirer article. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. YEA! Drum Corps International, the sanctioning body for competition youth drum corps events, said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by the allegations against Hopkins. Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. He's due back in court in February. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. Hopkins had been suing YEA for $650,000 in severance, vacation and expenses. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. 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. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The longtime leader of a champion Pennsylvania-based drum and bugle corps has resigned in the wake of a newspaper report that contained allegations of sexual misconduct spanning nearly four decades. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. Through his attorney, Hopkins said he did not know who Marie is, but denied her allegation. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. Ex-director of Allentown drum corps enters plea in - lehighvalleylive There, she said, he gave her a glass of wine and sexually assaulted her. Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment, he sued the organization for more than $580,000. The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field in July 2018. The Cadets have won these caption awards:[25], John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award, George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award, Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. Cadets official statement. George Hopkins has resigned. Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . One possible side effect of the frigid temps? The judge did not issue a ruling from the bench on Bergstroms motion. A Failure to Protect - Inquirer.com Hopkins did not testify Thursday. As promised, here is Part 1, of an eight part interview/discussion with the designers and teachers of the Cadets 1983-84-85, the holders of the first Drum Corps International three-peat, and . The group said it was taking steps to address the issues raised by past members, and has subsequently hired a new interim director. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. In both cases, the women say after meeting with Hopkins on business, they were drugged and sexually assaulted. 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. After roughly a month of trying to leave, Calhoun said he finally did it in July, cutting his touring season short. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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"). "He's like, 'Are you all right?' The prosecution on Wednesday did not take a position on the defenses request. Exercise was often used as punishment for messing up. Did march in the band at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for one year. 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. 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. Bergstrom said the Inquirer interviewed Jessica Beyer in April 2018 and publicly aired the four to five-minute video. 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. 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. You have permission to edit this article. [13] The corps' compliance with the terms of probation was sufficient for DCI to allow the corps to compete in 2018, and the probation was lifted in May 2019. George Hopkins - Medium The Cadets - Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins A | Facebook Awaiting trial for sex assault, former Allentown bugle corps director [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! 39K subscribers in the drumcorps community. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. 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Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's 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]. On November 13, Hopkins was indicted in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for sexual assault, based on accusations of two women who are former employees of YEA. George Hopkins, who also ran the youth arts education nonprofit that operates the Cadets program, pleaded no contest to the charges in 2020 and is now serving two years of probation. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. The parent organization of the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps has settled part of a lawsuit by its former CEO George Hopkins over his salary and benefits after he was fired in the wake. Not someone who wants to be an assistant. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. The YEA! The Cadets Drum Corps -The Three Peat | by George Hopkins | Medium ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. [6] The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. Success! George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. 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The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. 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. After the summer of 2020, the first summer in years without a Troopers tour, Ian Calhoun said he started to hear from friends hed made at the corps who were interested in reporting some of their experiences to the advocacy group MAASIN (Marching Arts Access, Safety & Inclusion Network). Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev.
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