New Jersey Hazing Arrests Put Focus On Anti-Bullying Policies
SAYREVILLE, N.J. (AP) — As a New Jersey town reels from the arrests of seven high school football players on charges they sexually assaulted younger teammates, attention is focusing on whether the state's anti-bullying laws adequately address team sports.
Advocates say the state is among the leaders nationwide in anti-bullying legislation. But those statutes don't specifically address sports teams.
The state's high school sports governing body leaves the matter up to individual schools. But the 17-page anti-bullying policy for Sayreville War Memorial High School doesn't mention the words "athletics" ''sports" or "coaches."
It isn't known whether coaches at Sayreville knew about the alleged abuse or suspected it was going on.
Sayreville's superintendent and school board president didn't return messages for comment Monday.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
You may also be interested in these stories:
