22 Nov Antioch Community Wants Accountability, District Rid of ‘Culture of Silence’ Following High School Hazing Incident

“This was not a single incident; it was a result of a culture of silence,” Elizabeth LaVasse, president of the We Get It Foundation, told the Antioch school board about an alleged hazing by Antioch High football players. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

Weeks after an alleged hazing incident by football players in the district, several community members urged more accountability and a culture change at the Antioch Unified School Board meeting this week.

Families and advocates on Wednesday were prompted by the district’s handling of an incident that, on video, showed a number of Antioch High School football players kicking, throwing equipment, and trying to take off one student’s shorts. Community members say that the student, who was lying on the floor during the incident, allegedly has a disability.

Antioch High forfeited a game last month for “violations of the District’s Code of Conduct,” principal John Jimno said in an Oct. 30 letter. But much of the team was later back on the field for a Nov. 8 game against Pittsburg High School and on Nov. 14 in Ukiah.

Jimno issued another letter a day before the Ukiah game, saying an investigation was “ongoing” but discipline for players and coaches involved had been implemented. The entire team participated in antibullying training and a restorative justice circle and will complete community service, he said.

Advocates say the incident is indicative of something more.

“This was not a single incident; it was a result of a culture of silence,” said Elizabeth LaVasse, president of the We Get It Foundation, a nonprofit that supports autistic people and their families. “This is about every child who thinks being hurt is normal and a rite of passage.”

LaVasse told school board members that her speaking out about the hazing has brought out “a level of hostility” from some staff members.

“There are incredible educators in this district, but there are also staff members who have retaliated, who bully parents, mock advocates, and who have created an environment where good people stay silent because speaking up feels unsafe,” she said.

Students who spoke to NBC Bay Area backed the student who had been apparently hazed by players, and Jimno said in the letter that bullying will “never be tolerated” at the school.

But Melanie Flyte, chief operating officer of We Get It and a parent in the district, said there “did not appear to be true accountability or discussion about a plan for change.”

According to SFGATE, district officials had gone “radio silent” between the Oct. 30 letter and through the week until the Pittsburg game, reportedly limiting comments on social media and listing the loss as a 0-0 on a high school sports website. That website now shows the correct score, which was 56-3, Pittsburg.

Flyte, whose children have themselves experienced bullying in the district as they’ve gotten older, said she’s seen both the impacts of bullying and proactive programs.

“I can’t help but wonder how life could be different for my child and many others if there were a culture that proactively engaged people in education,” said Flyte.

Teens can learn more about how to get help for bullying and what to do to help at stopbullying.gov/resources/teens.