Hopkins surrendered to authorities, was arraigned, and was released on $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4. One former Youth Education in the Arts employee who spoke to Philly.com on condition that she was identified only by her first name, Marie, said Hopkins routinely harassed and assaulted her at work. 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 only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. A six-month investigation into Allentown's Youth Education in the Arts is now complete. Allentown's Cadets drum and bugle corps forming non-profit, separating from YEA! The amount of time and effort that is necessary to make certain USBands events are successful is astounding. Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. Hopkins needs Help From George Hopkins . 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.. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said, READ MORE: Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls. Its a very difficult question, Anthony said. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. It comes from a lot of different places.. Calhoun ended up pulling a hamstring, but wasnt sent to a clinic for treatment. In 1998, the corps rebranded once again, dropping any reference to locale from its name and becoming simply The Cadets. But if that is the consensus of the alumni maybe WE should ensure that there will be a future for the CADET organization! I get up because Ive done the work to make myself whole and understand the evil that was done to me was not because of me, but because of you.. 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. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. 253 votes, 88 comments. 39K subscribers in the drumcorps community. But I never said yes," said Linda Riley. In my opinion, its impossible to march drum corps and not be broken in some way when you come out, because its a very rigorous physical and mental activity, said Calhoun, a former baritone. 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. Caren Blundetto-Frech John Hannigan, is there more than one child? 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. The Troopers Alumni band open during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. Former Cadets described him as a charismatic leader, while former office. 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. [6] The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. 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. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. Calhoun said, careful not to sound arrogant, that he was a solid corps member. The corps would fail to make DCI Finals for the first three years they were held and for six of DCI's first eight seasons. She told police that she passed out in his apartment and when she woke up, Hopkins was gone. Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. 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 accused him of sexual harassment or abuse. But even after he was let go, Connell said he was still allowed around corps members who knew what had happened and had reported him to the administration because he was the organizations connection to the housing site where they were staying. The Cadets has long been one of the top programs, attracting teens and young adults from around the world. 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George Hopkins resigned as director of the Cadets, an elite drum corps based in Allentown, Pa., after nine women accused him of sexual misconduct. Free Access to this video! The story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. Never marched in high school band. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. Advertisement Allentown News Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. YEA! The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. moved its base of operations to Allentown, Pennsylvania and The Cadets relocated along with it. As a member of MAASINs whistleblowing committee, Calhoun helped compile six reports and publicized them in January. 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. The 36-year-old woman addressed Anthony and spoke about years of fear, shame and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. Hopkins attended Wednesdays proceeding but did not address the court. But with the end of 2015, other changes occured. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. Ryan Macpherson, who hails from Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, will start his work as dean of the college on Aug. 1. I was just going to say, check his will! Prosecutor Matthew Falk, the offices chef deputy district attorney, said Beyer, the woman in the allegation dating to 2008, decided that not pursuing these charges are in her best interest, and we support her in that. The victim in the 2010 assault has asked not to be named. [5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. He resigned his position in April 2018, but the YEA board rejected his resignation and fired him, citing the sexual misconduct allegations lodged against him. 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. If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. "For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. Even snow plows and emergency vehicles were. Marched in the Holts Hornets from 1968-1970. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. Hopkins did not testify Thursday. agreed to take over the assets and liabilities of the Crossmen in 1997. 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. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. "I never said yes. wondering if he would be able to field and/or finance a corps, and ended 1983 Please subscribe to keep reading. In 1969, the corps became coed. As promised, here is Part 1, of an eight part interview/discussion with the designers and teachers of the Cadets 1983-84-85, the holders of the first Drum Corps International three-peat, and . During training, 150 members aged 14 to 22 rehearse for 12 hours a day, on their feet from morning to night. 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. In the suit, Hopkins denied he was fired by YEA, claiming he left the organization through a mutually agreeable cessation of employment.. Falk said the women were in agreement with the plea deal. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. 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. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jell-O.. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. 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. At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Cadets just missed making Finals and finished in thirteenth place in a competition that featured thirty-nine corps from the East, the South, the West Coast, the Midwest and Great Plains, and Canada. I cried a little bit," she recalled. By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. You have permission to edit this article. [9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. 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. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps who was accused of sexual misconduct by nearly a dozen women, pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was. 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. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. Now, she told Hopkins, who stood a few feet from her in the courtroom, she feels stronger than ever. The Cadets from Allentown, Pennsylvania perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. Success! "There were some tears. 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. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season. 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. 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. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. There was a problem saving your notification. After roughly a month of trying to leave, Calhoun said he finally did it in July, cutting his touring season short. The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field in July 2018. The Govenaires, an all-age/senior corps founded in 1927, retain the title of oldest continuously active corps. Genesis from Austin, Texas performs during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. 10 in E minor, Op. Her twin sister, Linda Riley, also a Cadet, said Hopkins had sex with her without her consent two summers later, when she was 19. The lyrics are taught to new members each summer and sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. After the hearing, Hopkins' lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers' stories. George Hopkins 247 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. During his tenure, Hopkins took the Cadets to 10 world championships and was an icon in the drum corps community. 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. I dont know a single person who marched drum corps and didnt have complaints.. Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. "This is a painful moment for all those who care about The Cadets," Youth Education in the Arts, the nonprofit that runs The Cadets, said in a statement on its website. The Cadets began operating independently 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. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. Nine women from Allentowns elite Cadets drum corps accuse director George Hopkins of sexual abuse and harassment, he sued the organization for more than $580,000. "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. 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. Twelve women have told the Inquirer they were sexually harassed or abused by Hopkins over the nearly four decades he served as director of Allentown's famed Cadets, years during which he achieved rock-star-like status in the activity. ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". An order filed Tuesday in. CEO while denying the allegations. Read more Kyle Monroe by Tricia L. Nadolny [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. 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. Currently semi retired, while creating Act 2 of life. They sleep on hard gym floors, take water breaks on the run and get an average of one day off per month. The Casper Troopers perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. The group said it was taking steps to address the issues raised by past members, and has subsequently hired a new interim director. Through his attorney, Hopkins denied "any nonconsensual relations" with the sisters and also denied having "any relations whatsoever" with Lee Ann Riley while she was a minor. For the rest of the force, that means longer hours and fewer days off while earning less than peers . For more than 30 years, George Hopkins has been a major proponent of changes in instrumentation, education and contest guidelines, such as initiating the use of band instruments, electronics, removal of sidelines and other alternatives. "He's like, 'Are you all right?' Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. to take in order for its drum corps to participate in the upcoming 2018 DCI Summer Tour. Through his attorney, Hopkins said he did not know who Marie is, but denied her allegation. After a great experience his first year, Calhoun said he was looking forward to coming back in 2017, even as some changes in his personal life took a toll on his mental health. The group keeps up a grueling practice and travel schedule, performing throughout the United States. He joined the staff of the Cadets in 1979 as percussion instructor and arranger, moving up to become Assistant Director under Dr. Santo . He began as Director in 1983 The. He resigned from his post in early April amid sexual assault allegations, but the YEA board said it was firing Hopkins. With no 2020 drum corps season, Cadets Arts & Entertainment focused its attention on establishing clear policies, strict safeguards and strategic committees that meet regularly to help guide The Cadets forward. But, as Connell says, the problem is much deeper than a couple of creeps. In an online post last year, Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear by those who disagreed with his management. 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. Her husband, based on everything hes heard about drum corps from Connell, says he wouldnt let any of their children march. Hopkins was also accused of sexually assaulting another woman in Allentown in 2008. The prosecution on Wednesday did not take a position on the defenses request. 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. Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. All that was claimed to have happened didnt happen.