Hazing incident 'sexual in nature' investigated at Dearborn Fordson HS

DEARBORN, (WJBK) - Dearborn Public Schools and the police are investigating an alleged hazing incident at Fordson High School.

The incident is said to be sexual in nature, but a silent protest outside by students Friday was said to have been shut down by school officials.

Students had a half day Friday but said they were threatened with suspension if they took part in the protest. As a precaution, extra security was on hand as school let out.

This week the superintendent and the principal released statements about the incident which was said to have happened earlier in the week. In the letter it made mention of a "rogue hazing incident" that occurred on school grounds by students on the football team. They have been identified and disciplined.

The school says it was not a rape but has not described what it actually was. Students have told FOX 2 that it was criminal sexual conduct. Police are determining if legal action should be taken.

"If you do choose to (protest) they will probably suspend you," said student Hassan Fares. "That's why we all faded away from it; because we knew we would be suspended if we did it."

"We just heard about it and we got shocked," said Mohamed Hachem, a grad of the school. "(To think) that this would happen to a kid at a school with over 100 staff members

"These are kids; they are not 18 year olds yet. I couldn't believe it. I felt what if this happened to my little brother."

Hachem helps run a city of Dearborn Instagram account not affiliated with the city but which highlights good and bad stories in the city. It first helped bring the story to light. 

"I guarantee if we didn't say anything, this would have stayed a low key story," Hachem said. "No one would have found out anything about this."