Hazing Forum Coming to Des Plaines

Plans for a public forum about bullying and hazing are underway. The forum, which will include law enforcement officials, experts on bullying and hazing and victims of abuse, was organized in the wake of reports and investigations into incidents of sexual assault and abuse at Maine West High School in Des Plaines, Journal and Topics Newspapers reported.

The hazing forum will be held at the Des Plaines Park District Leisure Center, 2222 Birch St. on May 22, Journal and Topics Newspapers reported. The local news outlet is sponsoring the event.

Maine Township High School District 207 and Maine West have been entangled in a hazing scandal that came to light last fall, when students on the varsity soccer team reported incidents of abuse.

Since that time, a bullying and hazing lawsuit has been filed on behalf of current and former Maine West students, D-207 launched an investigation into the matter, which led to the termination of two employees that were teachers and soccer coaches, and the district implemented measures to address abuse within its three high schools.

This week , in which he dismissed his appeal of the termination and agreed to cooperate with D-207 in the defense of the lawsuit. As part of the agreement, Divincenzo will receive health insurance benefits until January 2014, his legal representation in the case will be paid by the district and he will be given other considerations. 

Candidates for D-207’s board of education completed election questionnaires on Patch in which they responded to a question about what they would do, if elected, to address bullying and hazing at the Northwest suburban high schools. Click on their names below to see their answers:

• Eldon Burk
• Mary Childers
• Jin Lee
• Eric Leys
• Margaret McGrath
• Carla Owen
• Jeffrey Spero
• Sean Story

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