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. "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. 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Senate vote, Reading Area Water Authority looking for leak on North Heidelberg Township line, Former Penn State Berks soccer player among dead in violent Monroe County crash, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South, Ukraine ally Kallas fights for reelection in Estonia vote, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, Pot vote has Oklahoma hungry to rake in green from Texas, Global race to boost electric vehicle range in cold weather, In Britain, warm hubs emerge to beat soaring energy costs, 6 Nigerian states drop suit to void presidential vote result, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills, What the Tech? 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. April 13, 2018. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! 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. She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. These PEOPLE are your most important asset. Shortly after, more victims came forward, and the accounts of two of these women became the basis of the criminal charges brought in November 2018. CEO while denying the allegations. A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"). moved its base of operations to Allentown, Pennsylvania and The Cadets relocated along with it. 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.. [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. For members of the Casper-based Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, summer is hardly a vacation. But instead, he encountered a disorganized administrative team that seemed to be improvising on the job. [7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! Former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins has settled a civil claim with the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, regarding compensation. Overall, the deficit was about $200,000. Their biggest resource in that effort may be the very people who are speaking out. The YEA! In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years. to recruit potential members is a Cadet legend. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. He followed that with eight additional DCI World Championships, most 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. also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.[18]. [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. 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. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 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 Wyoming teachers are leaving. Im still standing and using my voice to say what you did was wrong, she said. George Hopkins resigned as director of the Cadets, an elite drum corps based in Allentown, Pa., after nine women accused him of sexual misconduct. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Falk declined to comment afterward on whether the two sides were discussing a plea deal. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. Former Cadet Lee Ann Riley said she was 17 when Hopkins, then 23, forced himself on her and had sex with her. 2; Steve Vickers, ed. ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". The City of Erie welcomed The Cadets with open arms, offering access to local business relationships, services, volunteers, and new opportunities for funding and partnerships. An online community dedicated to the marching arts, with a focus on drum corps. Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. But, as Connell says, the problem is much deeper than a couple of creeps. On November 13, Hopkins was indicted in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for sexual assault, based on accusations of two women who are former employees of YEA. [22][23], At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. He's due back in court in February. I am not a Trooper, Im just a sack of meat, just sitting on the ground being worthless.. Michael Berry, attorney for the Inquirer, countered that the defense could interview Beyer on its own or cross-examine her at trial. There, she said, he gave her a glass of wine and sexually assaulted her. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. Its clear from the video that its been edited, and that the Inquirer has chosen to show only portions of the interview, he said. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. 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. George has 7 jobs listed on their profile. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. And I never said no. Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 19682019). They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. The. The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. Beyer, who said Hopkins assaulted her after she went to work for the corps, watched his plea and sentencing Thursday, but did not speak in court. At 192 beats per minute.. Consent matters.. Connell said she never had any problems with Jackson herself, but was hurt indirectly watching her close friends being neglected or silenced. 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. Broke-down buses, Ibuprofen, and a sex offender: On the road with The reasons why may be about more than money. Ex-director of Allentown drum corps enters plea in - lehighvalleylive On Wednesday, he told Lehigh County Judge James Anthony that the Inquirer has refused to provide the full video. Hopkins earned about $177,000 in 2017, according to the nonprofit's financial statements. Folks were upset, nothing new, but this time, the anger took a more aggressive approach. For those who outright pretty much called me a liar, Lillian Petrullo-Yocovelli Thx you Caren Blundetto-Frech!! It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. CEO while denying the allegations. There was a problem saving your notification. George Hopkins - Medium ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- The longtime leader of a champion Pennsylvania-based drum and bugle corps has resigned in the wake of a newspaper report that contained allegations of sexual misconduct spanning nearly four decades. 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 up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. 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. Prior to 2000 and the adoption of the current scoring format, the Cadets won these captions: A History of Drum & Bugle Corps Vol. I cried a little bit," she recalled. You need to make sure that you are taking care of them. Exercise was often used as punishment for messing up. Renowned former drum corps leader charged with sex assault | Fox News Consent matters.. 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. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. "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. Lees ons privacybeleid en cookiebeleid voor meer informatie over hoe we uw persoonsgegevens gebruiken. The amount of time and effort that is necessary to make certain USBands events are successful is astounding. The judge did not issue a ruling from the bench on Bergstroms motion. After the summer of 2020, the first summer in years without a Troopers tour, Ian Calhoun said he started to hear from friends hed made at the corps who were interested in reporting some of their experiences to the advocacy group MAASIN (Marching Arts Access, Safety & Inclusion Network). He began as Director in 1983 There was an error processing your request. Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. 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. [21] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance. Fine time to ask me now. Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets' parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. Awaiting trial for sex assault, former Allentown bugle corps director Defense attorney Thomas Bergstrom had previously filed a motion asking that The Philadelphia Inquirer provide the full and unedited video interview with one of Hopkins accusers that it had produced and published online. 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. That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. Hopkins is facing two sexual assault charges after nearly a dozen women came forward with allegations in 2018. These sort of militaristic rituals, paired with constant reminders about how grateful members should be for their spot on the corps, foster a culture of negligence that came to light last month when several former members went public with allegations, leading to the resignation of former corps director Kristy Jackson. [2][3], In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. 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