The president of Mater Dei Excessive College in Santa Ana is leaving within the wake of an alleged hazing scandal involving the varsity’s storied soccer program.
Father Walter E. Jenkins, who was employed final 12 months, is stepping down from the varsity on the finish of the winter break, faculty spokeswoman Allison Bergeron stated Saturday. He was not fired, she stated.
His departure follows weeks of controversy over a lawsuit filed in late November by the mother and father of a former soccer participant. The criticism accused Mater Dei and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange of making an attempt to cowl up a brutal locker room altercation that left the participant with a traumatic mind damage.
After information of the lawsuit prompted an outcry amongst alumni and oldsters, Jenkins promised to analyze the incident, which occurred final February. Final month, he introduced that Mater Dei had employed an unbiased agency to evaluate security protocols on the faculty and within the athletic program, and stated he would make the findings public.
Jenkins’ departure won’t have an effect on the unbiased evaluate, which is scheduled to start this semester, Bergeron stated. In his absence, the varsity shall be led by the principal and a crew of assistant principals.
“There’s completely no query that the varsity and the diocese are dedicated to highschool security no matter who sits at that desk,” Bergeron stated.
