Sports
Salem Schools To Confront Hazing Amid Danvers Hockey Charges
Superintendent Steve Zrike said any students or families experiencing hazing should report it to coaches, administrators or teachers.
SALEM, MA — Salem Public Schools will issue guidance to coaches and place additional emphasis on support for reporting of possible hazing incidents following accusations of racism and homophobic hazing within the Danvers High boys hockey program in recent years.
Superintendent Steve Zrike said the district "is watching closely and learning from" the reports from Danvers in which a former member of the hockey program said players were forced to take part in racist locker room rituals and hit in the face with a sex toy if they did not comply.
Zrike said he will be issuing guidance to all coaches about the importance of reporting any such accusations in Salem.
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"Of course, we have no tolerance at all around discriminatory behavior of any kind — whether it's based on race, gender, religion," Zrike said. "That's unacceptable in the community.
"But we can't be blind to it. We have to be clear. It can't be 'boys will be boys' or 'kids will be kids.'"
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Zrike said there have been conversations around how to be proactive in preventing any such incidents and supporting victims if they occur.
"Sadly, this behavior is pervasive across our state, our country," Zrike said. "It's something we have to stand strongly against."
Zrike said anyone who is made to feel uncomfortable because of their race, gender or religion, or who has been a victim of physical or verbal hazing, should reach out to a coach, administrator or educator to report it so it can be dealt with immediately.
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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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