QUINCY, ILL. -- UPDATED: September 21 at 9:40 a.m.
Parents are expected to be at Wednesday's Quincy Public School board meeting to discuss this incident. This is the first time expulsion could be mentioned for these students.
The board meeting will be Wednesday at 7:00 in Baldwin's Round Room.
To see other items on the board's agenda click here.
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The Adams County States Attorney is filing charges against the Quincy Junior High students involved in the recent hazing incident at Flinn Stadium.
Quincy Police Chief Rob Copley told KHQA August 31 that his department investigated what was reported to authorities as an alleged hazing incident involving student athletes who were all the same age and all the same gender.
Jon Barnard says after studying the evidence, the students involved will be charged with assault in the county's juvenile court.
The names of the accused won't be released because they are under the age of 17.
Barnard said, "The normal protocol for reviewing this information was followed here, just like in any case, whether adult court or juvenile court. We get police reports they gather in the course of their investigation and review it and make a charging decision."
So why assault?
Barnard said, "Because that is what the investigation showed the facts best fit in terms of a charge."
Shortly after the hazing incident, Quanada issued a statement against hazing. Click here to read the complete statement.
The organization says schools shouldn't be places for abusive traditions even if they're are given fancy euphanisms like "hazing".
We talked with Megan Duesterhaus, Quanada's Executive Director. She says the community needs to change its perception of hazing as being acceptable.
Duesterhaus said, "From an anti-sexual assault program perspective, we believe that any incident of assault that has a sexual component is sexual assault. Sexual assault is using a sexual act to humiliate or take control away from a victim. It often doesn't have anything to do with a sexual act."
Click here to read KHQA's original story on the alleged incident.
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