Sayreville football scandal

by Jordan Fickling, staff reporter

Sayreville War Memorial High School, a school normally known for its great Football, is now known for its bullying.

Seven students that play football have been accused of hazing and sexual abuse. Because of this revelation, the Sayreville football season has been cancelled.

Students are accused of inappropriately touching younger students, while others held the victim down. In addition, victims have said that other players would sometimes grope a younger player’s genitals and penetrate him from behind with a finger.

Three students faced aggravated sexual assault and other charges because of this. Meanwhile, the four other teens are charged with conspiracy, sexual contact, hazing, and riot by being active in the assault of the remaining victims.

“It’s very embarrassing what happened to the victims. I do not wish that on anyone. It really disgusts me that it was a tradition at that school,” senior Dominique Cachia said.

Under state law, defendants under 18 years of age, are sent to family court, regardless of the charges committed. The ages of the students range between 15 and 17 years of age. Repercussions are conventionally less severe in criminal court than in family court.

However, prosecutors have within 30 days to transfer the students to the criminal system to be tried as adults.

Administrators of the school decided to cancel the remainder of the football season in order to obtain enough evidence regarding the hazing claims.

Regardless of whether the teens will be convicted as adults or minors, teenagers convicted of sex crimes are required by law to register as sex offenders for at least 15 years.

“All seven of the accused students deserve to be tried as adults for their crimes. Despite the fact that they have to register as sex offenders, I still hope that the prosecutors punish them accordingly for what they did,” senior  Anastasia Papatheodorou said.