YOUNGSTOWN Ursuline High School has canceled Friday night's football game against Farrell.

According to a post on the Farrell Area School District's Facebook page, Ursuline has informed the district that the game scheduled to take place Friday, September 5 has been canceled.

Farrell Head Coach Amp Pegues told 21 News he had received this information via a brief phone call from Ursuline Head Coach Dan Reardon, after Ursuline's Board of Directors made the decison.

This announcement comes after a 200-page federal civil rights lawsuit against Ursuline High School, its administrators, football coaching staff and several members of the football team and their parents was filed earlier in the week.

The lawsuit alleges that a member of the football team was hazed, as well as physically and sexually assaulted by other team members and that those incidents were allegedly recorded on videos that were allegedly shared in the team's Snapchat group chat and later sent to other students and the community at large.

The lawsuit further alleges that the coaching staff dismissed the alleged incidents as "just boys being boys" and that the school's administration did not properly investigate the alleged incidents or take any disciplinary action against those allegedly involved.

Since the filing of the original lawsuit on Tuesday, even more alleged victims and/or witnesses have come forward.

Following these recent developments, Ursuline released a statement explaining their side of the story.

According to the statement, the alleged victim's family made a formal report to the school about the incidents, and Ursuline's administration opened an investigation and notified the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown and the Youngstown Police Department about the allegations.

The school says disciplinary action has been taken against some students "most directly involved" with the alleged incidents, but the statement did not specify what disciplinary action was taken.

The statement also says some other students involved had left the football program before any disciplinary action could be imposed. The school says further administrative action will be communicated upon the completion of YPD's investigation.

Ursuline's full statement can be read below.

"The safety and well-being of our students is Ursuline High School's top priority. Ursuline parents can and should feel confident that their sons and daughters are in a safe environment every day. To that end, we want to highlight the steps we've taken in regard to the allegations about the football program."
 
"After the students and coaches returned from the trip in question, one family made a formal report to the school alleging misconduct. Once informed, Ursuline's administration timely opened an investigation. Immediately thereafter, Diocesan representatives and local authorities were notified of the allegations. Both Ursuline and the Diocese of Youngstown continue to cooperate fully with the authorities’ investigation, which is ongoing. Both out of concern for the identity of minors and at the request of the police, Ursuline has not discussed the allegations in public."
 
"Disciplinary actions against some students most directly involved were imposed under Ursuline policies. Other students involved voluntarily left the football program or Ursuline entirely before discipline could be imposed. Further administrative actions will be communicated once the investigations and legal process are complete."
 
"In the meantime, an increased chaperone presence and mandatory training reviews are in place to further protect student safety."
 
"The Ursuline Board has decided to cancel the game against Farrell scheduled for September 5th."
 
 As of now, it is unknown if any more of Ursuline's games will be canceled.

 

You can read much more about the allegations and read the lawsuit in its entirety in our related coverage below.

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