Two Teens Charged After Alleged Hazing Incident
Posted September 11, 2009 12:55 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Two 17-year-old Burlington high school students are facing assault charges after an alleged hazing incident.
According to reports, five grade 9 students were walking home from M.M. Robinson High School Tuesday when two vans pulled up.
Several grade 11 and 12 students proceeded to take the boys to a wooded area where they were allegedly hit with paddles and drawn on with coloured markers in a cruel ritual known as ‘gummering’.
The two teens charged are accused of being leaders of the hazing group.
Some students believe police have taken the matter too seriously.
“It’s just teenagers having fun, nobody is getting hurt, it’s just a simple high school prank,” one told reporter Cynthia Mulligan.
But police maintain physical violence won’t be tolerated in any form.
“It is serious charges, but we are looking at it as a very serious incident,” said Halton Regional Police Det., Jeff Hill.
Police say more charges could be laid, and the school is launching its own investigation, which could lead to suspensions or expulsions.
