Youth Education in. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. in May, stating they lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public. People are using more water. 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. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. Since the crime occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. What is clear ---I need an assistant. 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. READ MORE: Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment. Success! If you forget to do a step-off, someones going to collide into you with a 20-pound tuba. New statement from Youth in Education in the Arts on Allentown Cadets The Cadets - Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins A | Facebook And thats the sad part, those people that truly went through something hard, something life-altering and traumatic, are scared to talk about it.. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening. Hopkins was hired by The Cadets in 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. [5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. Cc: Youth Education in the Arts Board of Directors. "I felt pressured and I felt cornered. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. There was a problem saving your notification. Bergstrom argued that the states shield laws do not apply in this case as the Inquirer is not protecting a confidential source or communication. [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. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. The whistleblowers say they went public after receiving a feeble response from the Troopers legal team. 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. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. View George Hopkins' profile on LinkedIn, the world's largest professional community. Youth in Education in the Arts has issued a second statement on Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins' resignation that came after a Philadelphia Inquirer article on sexual allegations. His arrival was fortuitous, because the Cadets were in crisis - lacking staff, This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. First, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have afforded me in this role. One in four trooper positions are vacant. This has directed more than enough negative attention to the Cadets when in reality, it should be pointed at George Hopkins himself. Second, I want to thank the USBands team for their hard work. The judge set a Dec. 17 hearing on the defenses motion to dismiss the charges. George Hopkins, longtime director of the Cadets drum corps, resigns In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles. It carries the same weight at sentencing as a guilty plea. 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. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. In the criminal case, prosecutors allege 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. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins settles with YEA on Hopkins did not testify Thursday. The DCI.org interview: George Hopkins 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. The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. 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. He began as Director in 1983 Consent matters.. He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. 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. A tuba player lost feeling in their right hand, he said, and wasnt treated until the next day. "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. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. amid sexual allegations, Allentown Cadets board resigns amid allegations against ex-drum corps director, Defense says accused former drums corps director weighing plea deal. 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. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. How to do some spring cleaning on your smartphone, What the Tech? All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen. [10] The organization also hired a Chicago labor and employment law firm, Franczek Radelet, to investigate the accusations against Hopkins as well as YEA!s policies and procedures for providing a safe environment for youth members, employees, and volunteers. Ex-director of Allentown drum corps enters plea in - lehighvalleylive Her twin sister, Linda Riley, also a Cadet, said Hopkins had sex with her without her consent two summers later, when she was 19. and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation Its a very difficult question, Anthony said. to take in order for its drum corps to participate in the upcoming 2018 DCI Summer Tour. Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins . Read more Kyle Monroe by Tricia L. Nadolny Ex-Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins charged with sexual assault Hopkins did not testify Thursday. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. 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. The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. 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. YEA! 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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. 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. A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. [2][3], In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. They dont eat lunch until their section is perfectly lined up by twos. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. Watch this report from Action News at 4:30pm on April 6, 2018. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. 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. Drum Corps International, the sanctioning body for competition youth drum corps events, said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by the allegations against Hopkins. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). April 13, 2018. Error! She said she told Hopkins no but was unable to fight off his sexual advances. 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. 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. It said it was reaching out to Youth Education in the Arts, and also planned an internal review to see whether any current members of the DCI staff knew about the allegations and failed to report them. 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. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. 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 I want to see what else is in that video that is dramatically different than what she told detectives two months later, Bergstrom said. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . 93 (Mvts. [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. It comes from a lot of different places.. 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. 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! George Hopkins - Founder - 11 Rings | LinkedIn Chapter 5 Staff changes and letters to the board of directors . and only for this show no black uniform. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Free Access to this video! You have permission to edit this article. Falk said the women were in agreement with the plea deal. But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. Not just for [the victim] but for all the women who are taken advantage of by predators like you, Anthony said. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.

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