Sayville school district superintendent, Dr. Marc Ferris made an alarming announcement to parents and community members yesterday, October 12 via email about the boys varsity soccer team's remaining season being immediately canceled following reports of hazing.
"This decision was made as a result of findings from an internal investigation that uncovered members of our Varsity Soccer team participating in hazing activities off campus that included acts of violence and humiliation towards younger players on our team," wrote Ferris
The hazing behavior was characterized as "systematic" and "ongoing" throughout the season.
"In addition to the fact that certain students participated in these activities as the aggressors, it is equally concerning that members of the team felt unable to speak out against this or report this to any adults of authority over the course of the season," said Ferris.
The district said there is evidence that the behavior extended beyond this season and included additional behaviors in past years that included forms of racism and antisemitism towards certain team members.
"This is not a team culture that we can condone or accept as a school district," said Ferris
The events reportedly took place off school grounds, but Ferris said, "It is our obligation as a school district to hold those who participated accountable and to send a strong message to our entire school community that hazing, discrimination, bullying, racism, or anti semitism of any kind, in any possible form or forum, is completely unacceptable and intolerable."
"No program, regardless of win loss record, status, or standing in the community will exist in our schools if it does not live up to these expectations. We take no pleasure in making this decision. However, as a school district, we need to take a stand and send a definitive message to all of our students and community members about how we will deal with these situations moving forward," said Ferris.
