Danvers to investigate hazing by hockey team

Danvers has agreed to investigate and prevent hate and bias incidents, particularly in its high school hockey team, which engaged in hazing and exchanged “virulently racist, homophobic, antisemitic and misogynistic” comments and images in group texts, Attorney General Maura Healey said.

The schools failed to properly respond to several years of bullying and harassment in violation of the state’s anti-bullying law, Student Anti-Discrimination Act and Fair Educational Practices Act, Healey said.

Players on the hockey team took part in hazing rituals that involved racist, homophobic and physically and sexually abusive behavior, which were part of a “toxic” team culture that developed and persisted because the varsity hockey coach failed to properly supervise the team, the AG said.

“Racism, homophobia and bigotry of any kind have no place in our locker rooms, rinks or playing fields,” Healey said.

The Danvers public schools apparently didn’t discipline several students who took part in bias-related behavior or consider whether sexual and racist misconduct uncovered during its investigations may have created a hostile environment for some players, she said.

The attorney general’s office also expressed concern that the district considered the team’s “virulently racist, homophobic, antisemitic and misogynistic” texts private, off-campus speech.

According to the attorney general’s office, schools have the authority — and frequently an obligation — to respond to even ostensibly private speech that involves, encourages or fosters an environment that results in bullying or harassment, or otherwise interferes with students’ rights at school.

In a statement Tuesday, Acting Co-Superintendents Keith Taverna and Mary Wermers said:

“The steps recommended by the AGO directly align with the work that we have been actively focused on since these allegations arose. We understand the seriousness and complexity of these issues and pledge to do better.”

Based on recommendations by Healey’s office, the Danvers Police Department has agreed to reassign former varsity hockey coach Steve Baldassare to a position in which he will no longer supervise or have any role in the Danvers School Resource Officer Program.

DPSD has also taken disciplinary action against several students involved and increased training for students, athletes, coaches and administrators.