6 Centennial Cheerleaders Removed After Hazing Incident

ROSWELL, GA — Six members of the Centennial High School cheerleading team have been removed from the group after an alleged hazing incident was reported to administrators. In a letter sent home to parents this week, Principal Dr. Anthony Newbold said the incident took place at the home of one the school's cheer families.

While the event was not "directly organized" as part of the school programs, Dr. Newbold said the gathering "designed by and for our varsity competition and sideline cheerleaders." This event, he went on to say, involved several acts of hazing "of all varying degrees."

"Hazing and bullying of any kind are not tolerated by Centennial High School or Fulton County athletics, even when branded as team 'initiation'," he said.

The perpetrators, he added, have been booted from the competition and sideline cheer squads at Centennial, which serves students in Roswell and Johns Creek. A total of six students were removed, said Fulton County Schools spokesperson Carla Murphy. She noted that it's been estimated that as many as 20 female students were involved in the incident involving "unsportsmanlike and inappropriate behavior described as hazing."

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"When school administrators learned of the incident, a prompt investigation occurred," Murphy said. "The students involved in the incident have received appropriate consequences. The district and the high school believe that the safety of all students is paramount, and will continue to take all incidents of hazing very seriously."

Dr. Newbold went on to share Centennial's Athlete's Code of Conduct passage from the student handbook, which outlines the expected behavior by those who take part in sports on behalf of the school. Part of the code reads that behavior expectations and prohibited activities will apply all year round, no matter the specific season or whether an action takes place on or off school grounds.

"While we understand that the removal of these individuals will make this a difficult season for all members
of both squads but the actions of these individuals will not be tolerated," the principal went on to say. "I do not think these athletes acted with intent to harm but intent is irrelevant with hazing."

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