'Misinformation' Surrounding Hazing Investigation At NJ School: Superintendent

WALL, NJ — As a sexual assault and hazing probe continues at Wall High School, leaders with Wall Township Public Schools addressed the concerns of parents, offering counseling services to students impacted by the incidents, and slammed the spread of rumors amid the investigation.

“I am aware of many social media posts and media reports that are grounded in rumor. This circulation of misinformation is compounding an already difficult and challenging situation,” Superintendent Tracy Handerhan wrote in a letter emailed to district parents and guardians late Friday night. “Contributing to this type of messaging is hurtful to the students, school community and to the greater Wall Township community.”

In her letter to parents, the superintendent said she understands their frustrations with the lack of information being provided about the hazing allegations and sexual assaults at the high school.

“I realize members of the Wall Township Public Schools community are looking for answers. I understand there is mounting frustration when questions are met without answers due to mandated confidentiality,” she wrote. “I hear the concerns. Please recognize that all student and personnel matters must remain confidential so as not to compromise the safety and well-being of WTPS students.”

Authorities are investigating multiple sexual assault incidents involving female students at Wall High School, as well as hazing allegations involving members of the school’s football team.

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The hazing incident reportedly involved half a dozen older players pinning down a younger player in the locker room. Two parents of students at the high school shared details with NJ.com about a video that showed the incident in which one of the players was holding a mop or a broomstick.

The video does not show sodomy explicitly, but the parents told the publication that they think that is what some of the older players were attempting. They also claimed that the attacks happened more than once during this season.

In a joint statement, parents of football players said that not all members of the football teams should be blamed for the actions of a few.

"This is by no means the culture of Wall football and it is terrible to have this negative light shined on us because of the actions of a few individuals," they said, according to NJ.com. "Our boys were not aware what was happening or they would have immediately stopped it."

As a result of the allegations, the team’s Friday playoff game was canceled. Three coaches who are also teachers have been put on leave at this point, a spokesperson from the New Jersey Education Association Dawn Hiltner told Patch.

At least one student who was also implicated in the hazing allegations within the football program at the high school is facing a separate charge and has been accused of sexually assaulting at least one girl in an unrelated incident, according to New Jersey 101.5.

District counselors are providing support services to Wall High School students, Handerhan and the school’s principal, Rosaleen Sirichio, said in a separate joint email sent to parents Friday night.

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“It is not unusual for adolescents to feel anxious, sad, fearful, angry or vulnerable as a result of traumatic events. This is compounded by the fact that so many rumors are circulating online and in the media,” they said. “In response, Wall High School has partnered with the Mental Health Association of Monmouth County.”

A team from the Mental Health Association will begin working with Wall High School students and staff Monday.

Handerhan and Sirichio the goal of this partnership is “to assist the Wall High School community with immediate mental health and wellness needs of students and staff during this difficult time and…to develop a long-term student wellness strategy that will serve as a foundation to strengthen the Wall High School community moving forward.”

They also shared a list of local counseling resources with parents.

“The last two weeks have been extremely difficult for our school community. We recognize this. Once again, we are committed to supporting you and your children through these difficult times,” they said.

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