During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. for more than $650,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter-suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleges to have lost due to the sexual misconduct scandal. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. There was an error processing your request. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. 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. April 13, 2018. The YEA! George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation, Stormcenter - School / Business Application. 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 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. Never thought for once you were a liar!! Hopkins: Briefly, after I personally assisted the project in 1996 (Chris Marino was the chairman of the board for the Crossmen), YEA! This is the resignation letter from the director of USBands (a YEA program that helps fund The Cadets) and reveals some interesting information. Two additional women, including Beyer, came forward within days to say they were also victims. Wyoming teachers are leaving. [22][23], At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. 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. The Cadets began operating independently of YEA! Never marched in high school band. 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). But this isnt the military. In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. At 192 beats per minute.. 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. 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 Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. George Hopkins, former director of Allentown's elite Cadets drum and bugle corps, pleaded no contest to indecent assault after an Inquirer investigation revealed years of misconduct. The City of Erie welcomed The Cadets with open arms, offering access to local business relationships, services, volunteers, and new opportunities for funding and partnerships. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh. I just felt like, Well, youre right. The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. The group keeps up a grueling practice and travel schedule, performing throughout the United States. He began as Director in 1983 George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. Error! Hopkins, George. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. {{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. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. A statement issued late Thursday night by the YEA board of directors, the organization that operates The Cadets, an elite drum and bugle corps, said CEO George Hopkins denies the allegations but . "I felt pressured and I felt cornered. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. 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. Many of the women who spoke to Philly.com said they felt empowered to come forward by the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct that has toppled powerful men in news and entertainment. 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. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. moved its base of operations to Allentown, Pennsylvania and The Cadets relocated along with it. Philly.com reported the alleged misconduct ranged from lewd comments and groping to rape. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA! But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . It wasnt rape and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. Drum and bugle corps perform intricate routines that incorporate music, marching, dance and color guards. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. As temperatures have plunged this winter, water use has risen. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. And I never said no. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! The whistleblowers say they went public after receiving a feeble response from the Troopers legal team. Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. Youth Education in. The judge set a Dec. 17 hearing on the defenses motion to dismiss the charges. 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. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors withdrew two charges of felony sexual assault and added the indecent assault count, a misdemeanor, and Hopkins pleaded no contest to that charge. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. "There were some tears. I think from here on out, theres a new level and a new sense of accountability that we as alumni of the Corps are unified in making sure that these experiences dont happen again, said former Troopers color guard member Vanessa Connell. As presented, the Cadets did turn to Black renditions of the Cadets uniforms at the end of 2015. 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. 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. Some people may be able to give 12 hours a day to the cause, and that is great for them and you, but my life is outside of YEA! For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. 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. "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. Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. II, III, & IV) by, The Pines of the Appian Way & The Pines of Villa Borghese by, Devotions: Kyrie Eleison, Simple Song, De Profundis, Agnus Dei, Things Get Broken, Pax: Communion, and Offeratory (all from Mass by Leonard Bernstein) with incidental music by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst & Omar Carmenates, O Holy Name (Traditional) / Opening Scene by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst, and Omar Carmenates / Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel / Sensemaya by, Adrenaline City by Adam Gorb / St. Louis Blues by, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990 (tie), 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1983, 1984 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1990 (tie), 1993, 1998, 1983, 1984 (3-way tie), 1985 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1995 (3-way tie), This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00. Cc: Youth Education in the Arts Board of Directors. 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!!! 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. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. 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. In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. Error! The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. People are using more water. YEA! He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. Its credits include the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, President Barack Obama's first inaugural parade, a reality TV show and "Late Night with David Letterman.". 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. This amount of the lawsuit included recovery for lost sponsorships and pledged donations to The Cadets and YEA!, a major loss of participants in the US Bands program, as well as legal fees incurred due to the scandal. Calhoun said, careful not to sound arrogant, that he was a solid corps member. You can cancel at any time. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Hopkins did not testify Thursday. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. in May, stating it had lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations, and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public in the 2018 Inquirer account. YEA! In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. The reasons why may be about more than money. 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. Taught numerous bands. "This is a painful moment for all those who care about The Cadets," Youth Education in the Arts, the nonprofit that runs The Cadets, said in a statement on its website. In February 2023, CAE announced a long-term partnership with the Erie Sports Center, resulting in a decision to move The Cadets and all operations of CAE to Erie, Pa. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. There was a problem saving your notification. Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home. The 36-year-old woman addressed Anthony and spoke about years of fear, shame and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. A few times in my life I have tried to work with an executive assistant. Twelve women have told the Inquirer they were sexually harassed or abused by Hopkins over the nearly four decades he served as director of Allentown's famed Cadets, years during which he achieved rock-star-like status in the activity. Since the crime occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. 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. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. [21] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. Hopkins' accusers ranged from 16 to 37 at the time of the abuse and harassment they say they endured, including three who were members of The Cadets and five who worked for Youth Education in the Arts, the parent organization that Hopkins also led as chief executive officer until his resignation. 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.