Authorities and school officials are investigating a hazing incident involving a Utah high school that included senior cheerleaders soaking incoming squad members with condiments and forcing them to strip to their underwear.
Ogden School District spokeswoman Donna Corby said the nine cheerleaders from Ogden High School have been suspended.
Corby said the girls joining the squad next year were taken to a park May 4, supposedly to celebrate earning a spot as a cheerleader. Instead, they were blindfolded and told to do push-ups and sit-ups.
She said the senior cheerleaders threw ketchup, mustard, peanut butter and pickle juice at the girls. The girls were then told to strip down to their underwear to get sprayed off.
It was dumb,” said Hailey Lawrence, Ogden High School Cheerleader.
Lawrence is one of nine senior Ogden cheerleaders suspended for hazing the girls who plan to be cheerleaders next year. She said she didn’t participate in the hazing but she watched as her fellow seniors on the squad blindfolded the new girls at Forest Green Park, and forced them to do cheers while everyone threw things like ketchup mustard and vinegar at them.
Lawrence said the girls who were hazed knew beforehand this was what the squad was going to do, but she felt uncomfortable.
Apparently one of the girls had a peanut allergy and suffered a minor reaction.
"We had a young lady with a peanut allergy, and had to use her (epinephrine) pen," Corby said, noting that the students probably didn't think of the risks they were causing. "You think something's going to be very innocent but it turned out to be very dangerous."
The suspended students were allowed back into the school to take their advanced placement and end-of-year exams. It is anticipated they will still graduate. Still, Corby said, they might still face additional consequences.
No word on when the investigation will be complete.