Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. The judge set a Dec. 17 hearing on the defenses motion to dismiss the charges. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. She marched from 2015 to 2017, around the same time as Calhoun. 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. In 198385, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peatthree consecutive DCI titles. Taught numerous bands. (YEA), the umbrella group that operates the Cadets and also serves 60,000 marching band . YEA! Brand New App to watch all of WFMZ-TV News and Syndicated Programing 24/7 on your Streaming App enabled TV. But no one is irreplaceable. The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. 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. 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. And I never said no. YEA! . The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field in July 2018. Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. ), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. In addition, YEA! Im angry. [16] Hopkins and YEA! April 13, 2018. 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. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. 253 votes, 88 comments. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. 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. 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. (CAE). 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. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. Morning Call reporter Laurie Mason Schroeder can be reached at 610-820-6506 or lmason@mcall.com. Crews were actively searching for people who were trapped, but having a hard time getting to them. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. There was a problem saving your notification. Success! Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. Wanneer u onze sites en apps gebruikt, gebruiken we, gebruikers authenticeren, veiligheidsmaatregelen toepassen en spam en misbruik voorkomen, en, gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content weergeven op basis van interesseprofielen, de effectiviteit meten van gepersonaliseerde advertenties en content, en, onze producten en services ontwikkelen en verbeteren. 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. agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. This time, people considered dramatic steps to change the face of the Cadets and for all time, to shift the trajectory of the most honored drum and bugle corps in history. [2][3][4], In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. 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. For those of you who do not follow the drum corps news, George Hopkins recently resigned as the director of the Cadets because of sexual misconduct allegations from nine women. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. 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.. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. Second, I want to thank the USBands team for their hard work. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. Caren Blundetto-Frech This would be more appropriately titled as a BLACK SATURDAY sale . He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . 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. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office workers said he was a volatile, often verbally abusive boss. In both cases, the women say after meeting with Hopkins on business, they were drugged and sexually assaulted. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one day off per month. 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. I just felt like, Well, youre right. 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. Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. Cadets Drum Corps Sep 1982 - Apr 2018 35 years 8 months . Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. that title. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most Never thought for once you were a liar!! 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. But this isnt the military. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. YEA! U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. He's due back in court in February. and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. 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. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets and CEO of Youth Education in the Arts who separated from the organization after being accused of sexually harassing nine women, is suing YEA for more than $580,000 in severance pay. 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. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. And those folks do it without flinching. : p or should it be, willing away the cash cow?Someone sold our souls to this legacy (too) many years ago. Copyright 2023 by The Associated Press. 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]. 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. Since the crime occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. 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. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. 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. 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. organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! His arrival was fortuitous, because the Cadets were in crisis - lacking staff, 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. 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. Renowned drum corps leader resigns amid abuse allegations. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. to recruit potential members is a Cadet legend. For the rest of the force, that means longer hours and fewer days off while earning less than peers . But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! [21] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance. I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. Defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom had previously filed a motion asking that The Philadelphia Inquirer provide the full and unedited video interview with one of Hopkins accusers that it had produced and published online. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. Falk said the victims were in agreement with the plea negotiation. The CAE Board of Directors approved this decision on Monday evening, February 13, 2023. 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. "And he did it anyway. You have permission to edit this article. Hopkins is out on $50,000 bail. Overall, the deficit was about $200,000. 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. George Hopkins, who led The Cadets to renown and a slew of national and world championships, stepped down from the Allentown-based group after Philly.com reported Thursday that nine women had. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. creates new code of conduct after sexual harassment allegations, Fired! I cried a little bit," she recalled. You need complete concentration on everything you do because if you dont, you could get someone else hurt or you can hurt yourself, Calhoun said. 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. Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark. Did march in the band at West Chester University in Pennsylvania for one year. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. 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, Former Allentown Cadets director issues statement claiming innocence, Charges filed against former Allentown Cadets director, Investigation into YEA sexual misconduct allegations complete, Report clears former YEA interim CEO of wrongdoing, YEA! 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. 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. 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. Watch this report from Action News at 4:30pm on April 6, 2018. 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 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. CEO while denying the allegations. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. In 1937, the corps song, "O Holy Name", was written for the corps. 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. I dont know a single person who marched drum corps and didnt have complaints.. 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. It took a summer without performances, said Connell, for people to step back and realize that what they thought was tough love was actually systemic negligence. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). The Crossmen of San Antonio, Texas perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Never marched in high school band. . They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. He began as Director in 1983 The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. 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. READ MORE: Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment. 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. 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. An order filed Tuesday in federal court says Hopkins and YEA have reached an agreement. Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . 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. As a member of MAASINs whistleblowing committee, Calhoun helped compile six reports and publicized them in January. Hopkins was hired by The Cadets in 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. "There were some tears. There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. Shes four years removed from the corps now, and married. 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. 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