Calls for superintendent to resign after allegations of racist, homophobic behavior by hockey team

DANVERS, Mass. — Allegations of racist, violent, homophobic behavior and a text chain from the 2010-2020 Danvers hockey team continue to cause major issues for the school district, leading some to call for the resignation of Superintendent Lisa Dana.

At a contentious school committee meeting held Monday night, some parents spoke up against the district’s handling of the matter. Others defended the hockey team, and a board member requested Dana be placed on administrative leave prompting the committee to go into executive session.

“I do not have confidence in the committee or superintendent, and I ask that they resign,” said one upset parent.

Early in the meeting, board member Robin Doherty made a motion for Dana to be placed on administrative leave. The committee held the closed-door meeting for about twenty minutes before reconvening.

The Boston Globe reported on Saturday that more than a year ago, in June of 2020, a varsity hockey player reported to the police and school officials that a pair of his teammates restrained him during the previous season. Another struck the player in the face with a plastic sex toy after he refused to yell a racist slur as part of the team’s locker room rituals. The team was all-white.

“Everyone says, ‘my grandfather went through it, my dad went through it, now it’s my time,’” said Dennis Goodwin, founder of the Anti-Hazing Collaborative. “We got to change that culture.”

>>>MORE: Racist & homophobic graffiti, 2 swastikas found in bathroom of Danvers middle school

Goodwin works with school districts to set up workshops for coaches that are similar to what they learn to prevent concussions. He thinks preventing hazing is equally important.

“From what I understand in Danvers, they say the coaches didn’t know,” Goodwin said. “But that’s why we need education for our student-athletes, coaches, administration and community members on how to prevent hazing.”

The alleged actions were part of sessions team members called “Hard R Fridays,” - with “R” referring to the last letter in the n-word - and a day designated set for anti-gay activities. The head varsity hockey coach, a police sergeant resigned from his position.

The Globe piece got the attention of Endicott College, where the boys’ hockey team rents its home ice. In a statement, Endicott said:

“In an article recently published by The Boston Globe, Endicott College learned of attempts by Danvers officials to shield from the public alleged inappropriate behavior by members of the Danvers High School boys’ hockey team. Both the allegations and lack of transparency are in direct conflict with Endicott’s values and commitment to community. As a result, Endicott College will not renew our facilities agreement with the Danvers boys’ hockey team to use the Raymond J. Bourque Arena.”

School officials acknowledged cultural issues at the high school. They said during Monday night’s meeting that the matter was investigated by attorneys, police, and the Department of Children and Families.

One committee member defended the actions of the school district over the past year and a half. At a School Committee meeting Monday night, Board member Arthur Skarmeas turned back claims officials were hiding anything, defending what was done on the grounds of protecting student privacy,

“If you think…that we haven’t done anything about this for a year and a half, and we took it lightly, or we brushed it off as some people say, swept it under the rug, that’s a bunch of crap,” Skarmeas said.

“Read the privacy laws. They’re very interesting and they’re very specific and they’re very limiting as to what we can do and say.”

According to the Globe, town leaders compiled two investigative reports on the issue and have commissioned another but have yet to inform the public about specific allegations or details of a text chain.

During Monday night’s meeting, one committee member said what could be released has been, and they also acknowledged some of the content of a text chain.

“There were things that students were saying in a chat group that was inappropriate,” said Eric Crane, Chairman of the Danvers School Committee.

Crane went on to say problems that have surfaced are not just school but town problems.

A special town meeting is scheduled for Monday.

©2021 Cox Media Group