Parents are questioning whether Olentangy Local School District in Lewis Center, Ohio, is doing enough to address hazing allegations involving the Orange High School girls' soccer team, saying the district’s promise of zero tolerance must be backed by meaningful action.
As reported by ABC affiliate WSYX in Columbus, the concerns came during the first school board meeting since videos surfaced showing players in a moving car with wrists zip-tied together, plastic wrap around their bodies and duct tape over their eyes. Other footage appears to show older teammates forcing hot dogs into younger players’ mouths, while girls can be heard asking them to stop, WSYX reported.
Parents have described the event as part of a team tradition known as “kidnapping.” They say the behavior raises broader questions about the culture surrounding the team and whether adults knew what was happening, according to WSYX staff, including Kierstin Lindkvist.
“There is a slight bully culture and it is, brushed under the rug a little bit,” Helen Dunlap, who has had a student in the district for 10 years, said during public comment at Thursday’s meeting.
“It was a really terrible thing that happened to some very vulnerable kids in our district, and this is an opportunity for us to stand on our values and back them,” Charlotte Lizon, another parent, added.
The school placed the coaching staff on leave and removed varsity seniors involved from the team.
Related: Entire Girls' Soccer Team Coaching Staff Placed on Leave Over Video Evidence of Hazing
One parent questioned whether the consequences were sufficient, saying some players received one-game suspensions before being removed from the team. “The consequences that I feel were that were handed down were very soft and does not share the message of the zero tolerance,” she said.
Another mother questioned if adults in the community may have overlooked warning signs. “There have to be a number of parents who knew about this,” Annette Moore said. “There have to be a number of teachers, other students. It's an opportunity to make an example of this situation, so that it does not happen again.”
Board president Brandon Lester outlined four areas the district is reviewing: educating students about hazing, ensuring students have appropriate ways to report concerns, improving how reports are investigated and examining the broader culture surrounding student activities.
He said hazing can escalate quickly and that preventing it is a shared responsibility. The district expects its policies to be followed and says every report must be taken seriously. “If we cannot support the physical and mental health and wellbeing of our students, we have nothing right,” Lester said.
Per WSYX, superintendent Todd Meyer also told the board he was “incredibly disappointed” and emphasized the district’s responsibility to foster an environment where students feel safe.
“We must look in the mirror and learn from this situation, strengthen our education and prevention, improve our reporting and response efforts and continue fostering a culture where every single kid feels safe, respected and valued," Meyer said.
The superintendent announced the district will provide more details about plans to address hazing at the next scheduled board meeting on October 22.
The district’s internal investigation is still ongoing, according to WSYX. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, which previously said there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges, said last week it would work with the prosecutor’s office to determine next steps.
“It's a lot of lip service if there's no action, further action or stronger action taken,” Dunlap said during the meeting.
