The Eldred Central School District will be forfeiting the final game of the 2014 football season amid reports of widespread and pervasive hazing amongst members of the Football team.

On Monday, Oct. 27, district officials became aware of allegations of inappropriate misconduct by members of the Football team and launched an immediate investigation. The investigation revealed that over a three week period, members of the Football team engaged in inappropriate hazing acts involving lewd behavior while on school grounds. Students were fully clothed while partaking in these acts. The student misconduct violates both the athletic and district Code of Conduct.

“Our school district’s highest priority is the safety and security of all of our students,” Superintendent Robert Dufour said. “While these acts did not result in any physical harm, they were not harmless in intent. Hazing is not acceptable, will not be tolerated and will be dealt with severely by the district. The Code of Conduct we have in place in our school district specifically prohibits hazing or any other act that dehumanizes or humiliates another individual.”

The investigation into these allegations is on-going and any student that is found to have been hazing or concealing the fact that hazing was occurring will be disciplined under the district’s Code of Conduct.

The district is working closely with the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department and the New York State Police which have been informed of the hazing allegations and are reviewing them to determine whether or not violations of the law have occurred. Lt. Luis Alvarez, the School Resource Officer, is working closely with the district during this investigation.

The district will be holding building-wide assemblies to address the dangers of hazing, as well as team meetings with all student-athletes for the upcoming winter season. Counseling services are also being made available for students should they need them.