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Bill backed to toughen hazing ban at schools
By WILL SENTELL
wsentell@theadvocate.com
Capitol news bureau
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| Karen Savoy urges the House Education Committee to pass a bill to strengthen Louisiana's school hazing law after describing how her son Jake was assaulted by fellow St. Amant High School football players in 2002. The panel advanced the bill. |
Karen Savoy pressed for the bill even though she said some waved off the attack on her son Jake as a boyhood ritual.
"I will not let this go," Savoy told the House Education Committee.
Panel members approved the bill without dissent and said they were stunned by the 2002 incident.
"I really regret that something like this happened in this day and time," said Rep. Avon Honey, D-Baton Rouge, a member of the committee.
"A lot of us would not believe this could happen," said Rep. Michael Powell, R-Shreveport.
Senate Bill 16 faces action in the full House. It passed the Senate 32-3 last month.
The measure requires local school boards to write, approve and post policies that spell out anti-hazing rules.
Hazing is defined as activities that subject students to physical, mental or psychological harm for admission or acceptance by groups in public school sports or other extra activities.
State officials said that, while anti-hazing laws are on the books, it is unclear what they cover.
The bill requires students, teachers and others to take steps to prevent violations of the policy. It also requires rules for filing complaints, how they are investigated, penalties and appeals.
The Ascension Parish School Board did not have an anti-hazing policy in place when the controversy erupted. After the Savoy incident, the board adopted a policy that requires principals to expel students who participate in hazing.
Penalties in the Savoy incident included suspensions of up to six days and Saturday detentions.
"It really saddens me that my son endured what he endured and that some only got Saturday detentions," Savoy told lawmakers.
"There were five coaches in the coach's office when this took place," she said.
Jake Savoy was a three-sport athlete who will be a senior at St. Amant High School in the fall. He still plays football.
His mother said her son was approached by 28 players in the school's locker room nearly two years ago.
Sen. Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City and sponsor of the bill, said the teen was stripped naked, taped to a bench and taunted as part of a hazing incident.
A civil lawsuit filed by the teen's father, Jerry Savoy, stated players beat his son's buttocks with hands, football cleats and other objects.
Head football coach David Swacker and three students were charged with criminal violations in connection with the hazing. Swacker has pleaded innocent to the charge of failure to report abuse and neglect. A trial is set for June 25.
One student pleaded guilty to simple battery. Cases for two others are pending.
Rep. Donald Trahan, R-Lafayette, a former high school football and baseball coach, said Savoy's story reminded him of a similar incident years ago.
"I salute you very much for your courage in doing this," Trahan told Karen Savoy. "I strongly support your effort."
