ATHENA — An alleged hazing incident after a September game led Athena-Weston School District Superintendent Ann Vescio to dismiss four players from the Weston-McEwen High School football team.
Despite several written complaints from parents of the dismissed players and other supporters, the Athena-Weston School Board voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 9, not to take any further action, meaning the board did not move to reinstate the players.
Not a lot of information has been released about the alleged incident that is thought to have occurred at a motel in Eugene on Friday, Sept. 8, after the team played in Oakland, Oregon, earlier that day.
After an investigation, Vescio dismissed four team players.
Six parents — some, but not all of whom identified themselves as parents of the dismissed students — spoke at the public comment portion in Monday’s school board meeting.
All who spoke did so on behalf of the disciplined students.
Some admitted the students made a mistake but thought the punishment was too harsh.
One parent who spoke said he was concerned with how the investigation was handled, the punishment dealt to the students and how the punishment might affect their mental health.
He also suggested the football team’s performance should be factored in, noting the team is undefeated.
Another parent suggested some students who were involved were not punished and said it was unfair to punish some students and not punish others.
“It all comes down to equality,” he said.
One woman who identified herself as the mother of one of the dismissed players objected to the word “hazing” being used.
Others were concerned about what they call exaggerated rumors, saying they have heard or seen online rumors of the details of what happened that they say makes the incident sound much worse than what actually occurred.
Parents, even when expressing anger with the board, were respectful and complied with public comment guidelines — until the board voted not to take any action to change the punishment.
Then, attendees started talking out of order, shouting and hurling insults at school board members.
One attendee then seemed to give a “boys will be boys” argument.
He pointed at every woman in the room and told them that they wouldn’t understand because they were women. He then said boys are different from girls and that boys “roughhouse.”
Some parents shouted that they might consider getting a lawyer.
Before the meeting, the Union-Bulletin reached out to Vescio, who opted not to respond to questions.
“The District cannot comment regarding any ongoing investigations or share any confidential student information,” she said in a statement. “The District is committed to the safety and learning of all students. Any concerns that affect the well-being of students are taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and responded to appropriately.”
After the meeting, with the district’s investigation apparently over because the punishment had been dealt, the Union-Bulletin requested comment from Vescio again on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
She responded with the same statement as before but with an added sentence: “There is no place in the district’s learning environments or extracurricular programs for acts of hazing or harassment.”
It is unclear to what extent law enforcement is involved in the investigation.
Oakland, Oregon, does not have its own police department and instead contracts with the nearby city of Sutherlin for law enforcement services.
The Union-Bulletin reached out to the Sutherlin Police Department.
A dispatcher said after asking on-duty officers from the night in question, she was unaware of any such incident being reported. She also added that Oakland doesn’t have many motels, and it is likely that the team would have traveled to Eugene to spend the night.
Capt. Sterrin Ward of the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the incident occurred in Eugene and is being investigated by the Eugene Police Department.
A spokesperson for that department said she became aware Tuesday that her department was investigating the case. The Union-Bulletin has submitted a public records request with the Eugene Police Department for the police report.
