[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. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! The story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana "He's like, 'Are you all right?' "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. 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. In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles. The Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps lost sponsors, donors and engagements because of sexual misconduct allegations against its then-director George Hopkins. As one of the only returning baritones, he was offered the section head spot by Jackson but turned it down I thought I didnt deserve it.. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. 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. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? 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. 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. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. 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. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. Consent matters.. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. [2][3], In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. Anthony warned Hopkins that if he violated any conditions of probation, he could be sent to a state prison. Marched in the Holts Hornets from 1968-1970. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. You have permission to edit this article. ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. 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. He began as Director in 1983 Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. Board of Directors Resigns, New Board to Guide Organization", "Former drum corps director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault", "Finding no resignation letter, YEA board fired Hopkins with no severance", "DCI action on YEA! Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. I cried a little bit," she recalled. Her husband, based on everything hes heard about drum corps from Connell, says he wouldnt let any of their children march. He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. 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. There is an interview with Beyer that is readily available to the public that will allow the Bergstrom to build his defense, Berry argued. Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Casper Star-Tribune. 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. The decision to leave wasnt easy, especially since the messaging within the organization encourages members to deal with the hardships or be seen as weak. 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land) / Lincoln Portrait / Music for the Theater, Mvts. And I never said no. The reasons why may be about more than money. Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. Read more Kyle Monroe by Tricia L. Nadolny I am not a Trooper, Im just a sack of meat, just sitting on the ground being worthless.. Morning call file photo/Special to The Morning Call, Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge calls him disgusting, Trump supporters who drove Hummer with guns and ammo to Philadelphia vote-counting site spared more jail time, Paul Muschick: Would money motivate Pennsylvania businesses to move to a four-day work week? [17], The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA! he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. Never marched in high school band. Stuart Evan Rice said in an interview this week that he told Dan Acheson . The rehearsal and performance grind wore him down, and he got little help from Jackson a former nurse aside from recommendations to drink coconut water and sit out a few reps. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). Hopkins was forced out as director of the . that title. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. In written remarks later directed at Hopkins, she said she had joined the Cadets bright-eyed, eager, and innocently believing that through hard work and integrity most things were possible., Instead, she said, working for the Cadets meant being subjected to verbal and sexual abuse. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. But this isnt the military. 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. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. [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. 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. Youth Education in the Arts governs the Allentown Cadets drum corps. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. The group keeps up a grueling practice and travel schedule, performing throughout the United States. 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. A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. 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. 253 votes, 88 comments. CEO while denying the allegations. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. 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. There was an error processing your request. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Success! George Hopkins, exiting court in Allentown in December 2018, pleaded no contest Thursday to indecent assault. [6] The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission and vision of YEA! Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli GH doesnt love the CADET Organisation he made himself an empire..to support him with his RV and 200K salary plus all the other extras.Laughing at everyone all the way to the bank.. Laura Masker I am not disagreeing with you as far as GH is concerned. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. In a high-profile case that came to light in 2018, a former director of the Allentown Cadets was accused of sexual misconduct ranging from verbal harassment to rape by 12 women, several of them former corps members. In the criminal case, prosecutors alleged Hopkins, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County, sexually assaulted a former employee at his Allentown apartment, after they met at a bar to discuss drum corps rules. The charges are second-degree felonies. 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. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. A few times in my life I have tried to work with an executive assistant. There are so many other things that Ive witnessed as a marching member, but theyre not my stories to tell, Connell said. 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. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. Connell said she never had any problems with Jackson herself, but was hurt indirectly watching her close friends being neglected or silenced. 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. [21] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance. 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. 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 Crossmen of San Antonio, Texas perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. The charges stemmed from alleged incidents involving two women. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. "I never said yes. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and, when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. I get they try to model it like the military, and in the military, youre only as strong as your weakest link, Calhoun said. 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. 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. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. [5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. creates new code of conduct after sexual harassment allegations, Fired! The CAE Board of Directors approved this decision on Monday evening, February 13, 2023. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. Second, I want to thank the USBands team for their hard work. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. reached a settlement in January 2019. Advertisement Allentown News 1, 2 & 4 / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring, Symphony No. The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. You can cancel at any time. ; Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00, United States Scholastic Band Association, "corpsreps.com The Drum Corps Repertoire Database", "Determination: Believing in the Midwest Combine", "Bang the Drum Slowly: A Championship Drum and Bugle Corps Leaves the State", "The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps: A history of alleged sexual abuse", "Statement from the Board of Directors of Youth Education in the Arts", "YEA! This is our director.". The. U kunt uw keuzes te allen tijde wijzigen door te klikken op de links 'Privacydashboard' op onze sites en in onze apps. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. "And he did it anyway. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. Lehigh County Judge James T. Anthony also fined Hopkins $5,000, the most allowed by law, and called him flatly disgusting.. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. 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. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets drum and bugle corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by a dozen women, pleaded no contest on Thursday to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years of probation. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. What is clear ---I need an assistant. The prosecution on Wednesday did not take a position on the defenses request. 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. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The Troopers Alumni band open during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. 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. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. 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. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. 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.
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