Wall Students Suspended, Hazing Probe Ongoing: Report

WALL, NJ — A lawyer representing families of Wall football players said that number of students at Wall High School had been suspended in a letter to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tracy Handerhan, according to NJ.com.

The lawyer is Deborah L. Gramiccioni, who works together with her husband and former Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni. She did not specify who those students were and exactly when they were suspended.

"I can confirm that I sent a letter and that we represent a number of the families of Wall Football players who were uninvolved in any wrongdoing, as alleged in media outlets," she told Patch.

According to Gramiccioni, the letter asked that student suspensions be considered carefully.

"My letter requested that caution and care be taken before summarily meting out suspensions because of the devastating effects that school exclusion have on children, especially for those children that were only guilty by proximity or association," she said.

It is unclear whether or not the suspended students are linked to the hazing and assault investigations currently being undertaken by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

"Getting into who was suspended and whether they were affiliated with a team only compounds the rush to judgment and fuels public condemnation of children," Gramiccioni said.

The letter was sent to the Superintendent on Nov. 24, according to NJ.com.

"We also learned this week of new suspension(s) of children, lasting upwards of ten days," it said, as reported by the publication.

Superintendent Handerhan and Board of Education president Ralph Addonizio were not immediately available for comment.

Since the allegations first came out, it has also become public that three coaches at the school and the Athletic Director Tom Ridoux have been put on leave.

The two last Wall football games were canceled, putting an early end to their season.

The hazing incident reportedly involved a handful of older students pinning down a younger player in the locker room and a video of that moment has been circulating among members of the school community, NJ.com reported.

The probe also had repercussions in the Board of Education, with member Russell Gartz resigning during the last meeting.

"The visceral and mean-spirited comments about many children and their families over the recent days has made being a volunteer position no longer valuable for me and my family," Gartz said in a letter that was read out loud.

During the heated session, parents demanded resignations and answers regarding the timeline of the events related to the hazing and sexual assault allegations. Former and current students described a culture of harassment at Wall High School dating back decades.

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