Marched in the Holts Hornets from 1968-1970. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer Thats if they make it onto the corps which is decided over several monthly training camps, between which corps hopefuls have to complete video assignments and track their diet and exercise. The judge did question how the defense would know if the witness impeached her own testimony on the stand, if it didnt know ahead of time what she may have said in an earlier interview. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office workers said he was a volatile, often verbally abusive boss. Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps. Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . "And he did it anyway. wondering if he would be able to field and/or finance a corps, and ended 1983 A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. that title. Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. Steven Chirichella Richie has his gold uniform on him in his eternity as he lies in the heavens dont turn him blackplease oh Holy Name. 93 (Mvts. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. Hopkins is out on $50,000 bail. ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. 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"). Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. Watch this report from Action News at 4:30pm on April 6, 2018. how enemies came to be friends. In 1940, the Cadets won the American Legion Junior National Championship in Boston, the first of a record nine Legion titles the corps would win between 1940 and 1964. It said it was reaching out to Youth Education in the Arts, and also planned an internal review to see whether any current members of the DCI staff knew about the allegations and failed to report them. The investigation into Hopkins conduct found he had little oversight from the Cadets board, giving him the freedom to throw things when angry in rehearsals, refer to women as little girls, and send inappropriate sexual emails on the organizations server. In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. There was an error processing your request. He began as Director in 1983 Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? "We are now opening a new chapter in the storied history of The Cadets by creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity guided by the following founding principles: To educate youth from around the globe on the value of teamwork, inclusiveness, kindness, self-expression, and open communication; To create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants; and To enrich lives by teaching critical development skills required for the pursuit of personal excellence.". View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. Newspapers publish newsworthy items all the time, and they cant be dragged into court every single time a defense attorney wants to know what other information is out there, Berry said. . Calhoun said, careful not to sound arrogant, that he was a solid corps member. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. Beyer, who said Hopkins assaulted her after she went to work for the corps, watched his plea and sentencing Thursday, but did not speak in court. In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. [5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. I was just going to say, check his will! Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. In his federal lawsuit seeking severance pay and other monies, Hopkins asserts that he resigned from the organization by letter on April 5, and that his departure was "mutually agreed"-upon. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. Follow More from Medium Mark. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years. I know this sub loves a good Hop story, so here you go. One former Youth Education in the Arts employee who spoke to Philly.com on condition that she was identified only by her first name, Marie, said Hopkins routinely harassed and assaulted her at work. George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. Hopkins surrendered to authorities, was arraigned, and was released on $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Two additional women, including Beyer, came forward within days to say they were also victims. One in four trooper positions are vacant. This is the performing arts, you dont need to be like this.. These sort of militaristic rituals, paired with constant reminders about how grateful members should be for their spot on the corps, foster a culture of negligence that came to light last month when several former members went public with allegations, leading to the resignation of former corps director Kristy Jackson. The Troopers initially denied wrongdoing, but later issued a statement apologizing for its defensive posture after facing a social media backlash. 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. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. 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. 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. Executive Director, Youth Education in the Arts Director, nine-time DCI World Championship Cadets D&B Corps Social Studies Teacher: Aston Township HS (PA) 1979-80 Band Director: Northern Highlands High School (NJ), 1984 An order filed Tuesday in. Im angry. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. 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. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. 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. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. By Staff. 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. If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. 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. The negligence comes from a lot of places, Connell said. But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. to recruit potential members is a Cadet legend. But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations. moved its base of operations to Allentown, Pennsylvania and The Cadets relocated along with it. 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. Shortly after, more victims came forward, and the accounts of two of these women became the basis of the criminal charges brought in November 2018. Edwin Garrity of the Holy Name Catholic parish in Garfield, New Jersey founded the Holy Name Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 1934 as an activity for the boys in the parish. 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. "I felt pressured and I felt cornered. "There were some tears. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. 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 For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. April 13, 2018. And those folks do it without flinching. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. 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. 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. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. 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). People are using more water. Charges were filed against Hopkins in November 2018, months after Youth Education in the Arts launched an investigation after about a dozen women accused Hopkins of sexual misconduct. And thats the sad part, those people that truly went through something hard, something life-altering and traumatic, are scared to talk about it.. CEO while denying the allegations. "' The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps . And I never said no. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! 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. Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. As part of the plea deal, prosecutors withdrew two charges of felony sexual assault and added the indecent assault count, a misdemeanor, to which Hopkins pleaded no contest. They became the 507 Hornets -- I marched there from 1971-1974. Did march in the band at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for one year. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. The Alliance members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. 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 . In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. 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. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. READ MORE: Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment. 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. Chapter 5 Staff changes and letters to the board of directors . He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. Instead, Beyer is very much in the public eye, and the defense is asking to see the entire video interview, not a reporters notes, he said. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. 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. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office. The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field in July 2018. I cried a little bit," she recalled. Connell said she never had any problems with Jackson herself, but was hurt indirectly watching her close friends being neglected or silenced. In addition to The Cadets, YEA! The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. What is clear ---I need an assistant. 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. agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. The charge to which Hopkins pleaded no contest stemmed from a woman who said she was sexually assaulted in 2010. In her 2018 account to The Inquirer, that woman, Jessica Beyer, said she had marched with the Cadets and was hired to work for the group the following year at age 22. Error! Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. You can cancel at any time. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. It comes from a lot of different places.. The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. In response to a question from Anthony, Berry said the paper would hand over the full video recording for the judges review only, if that was the courts ruling. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. [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. Advertisement Allentown News (YEA), the umbrella group that operates the Cadets and also serves 60,000 marching band . An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. Her twin sister, Linda Riley, also a Cadet, said Hopkins had sex with her without her consent two summers later, when she was 19. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh. George Hopkins, longtime director of the Cadets drum corps, resigns after sexual misconduct allegations April 6, 2018, 7:20 AM The decorated director of The Cadets drum and bugle corps. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. She said Hopkins' denials on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 he complained he had been smeared were a constant source of anxiety. Hopkins, George. I felt so used.". Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. Second, I want to thank the USBands team for their hard work. CEO while denying the allegations. Please subscribe to keep reading. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Defense in sex assault case wants newspaper to hand over accuser's video interview, George Hopkins' defense attorney wants access to the Philadelphia Inquirer's unedited video, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. I get they try to model it like the military, and in the military, youre only as strong as your weakest link, Calhoun said. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. The woman addressed Anthony in court, telling him of years of fear, shame, and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. Free Access to this video! [2][3], In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. You have permission to edit this article. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. The Troopers arent the only prestigious drum corps hit with allegations in recent years. The corps would fail to make DCI Finals for the first three years they were held and for six of DCI's first eight seasons. He watched as several other members suffered avoidable injuries from being overworked with little rest. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. Hopkins attended Wednesdays proceeding but did not address the court. She marched from 2015 to 2017, around the same time as Calhoun. Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins . The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. Never thought for once you were a liar!! Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. His credentials, his experience, his talents, his imagination, and his intellect are formidable. The. Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. He's due back in court in February. There, she said, he gave her a glass of wine and sexually assaulted her. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. Value of cutting back on your screen time, What the Tech? 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. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? In both cases, the women say after meeting with Hopkins on business, they were drugged and sexually assaulted. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. But no one is irreplaceable. I just felt like, Well, youre right. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. You have permission to edit this article. I am not a Trooper, Im just a sack of meat, just sitting on the ground being worthless.. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. gant \er--gnt, a-r-\ : having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people : having or showing arrogance.thats GH. I expect my final paycheck on October 18 which should include the agreed upon amount for moving expenses that has not been paid since starting in February 2017. We could soon find out, A windy, cloudy Saturday for the Lehigh Valley, but the sun will come out tomorrow, Six years after hazing death, Penn State plans to drop the Greek life oversight it championed. Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by numerous women in a 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer article, and was criminally charged in connection with two alleged incidents later that year. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. 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. Taught numerous bands. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). The former, longtime director of the Allentown Cadets competitive marching band entered a plea Thursday in a sexual assault case dating to 2018. Not someone who wants to be an assistant. "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. 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. [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. After a great experience his first year, Calhoun said he was looking forward to coming back in 2017, even as some changes in his personal life took a toll on his mental health. YEA! ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. Cadets are in troubleGH loves it that way.He wants there to be no Cadets if something happens to him.Cadets are in trouble for the FUTURE!!! Her husband, based on everything hes heard about drum corps from Connell, says he wouldnt let any of their children march. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. 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.
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