Letter from Maine West Parent to Principal: My Son ‘Endured a Hazing’

In a letter from a parent of a Maine West High School student in 2008, a mother outlines the reasons why she was requesting a transfer for her son to Maine East High School. In a letter to Dr. Audrey Haugan, principal at Maine West, on Aug. 5, 2008, the parent stated the following:

“Due to the lack of supervision which occurred in the locker rooms on the Maine West property my son endured a hazing by the freshman baseball A team. The incidents that occurred but are not limited to are physical aggression, a sexual assault, humiliation, verbal abuse, and ongoing emotional distress. These occurred at the hands of a core group of young men on the team.”

Antonio Romanucci, an attorney representing four families from the Des Plaines high school, including this parent, in , with some parts blacked-out, at a press conference at his Chicago office on Nov. 28.

In D-207’s statement regarding the 2008 incident released on Monday, officials stated when the parent contacted them on Nov. 16, that was the first they had heard of it, and they then notified the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Romanucci said transferring a student was a district issue.

“If he was given a transfer, the school district is now telling you that they didn’t know about it? Not true,” Romanucci said.

Click on the images above to read the entire letter, as presented at Romanucci & Blandin law firm on Nov. 28.

Related: Maine Township High School District 207’s official statement released on Nov. 28.

Sign up for Patch’s daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox with news, information and community.

Find Patch on Facebook and click the like button.