Sexual assaults at UCLA Summer Cultural Academy

Hazing ‘traditions’ and sexual assault plagued UCLA summer camp job, students say

One student alleges she was sexually assaulted by a fellow camper in a group of about 20 others as the camp unfolded.

The scandal broke in July after a group of 12 men and one woman, who were being held in a tent at the UCLA Summer Cultural Academy, were sent back to their tents because they allegedly were harassing girls in the group. The students alleged the campers harassed and assaulted them, and were charged with misdemeanor sexual battery in September.

Two of the summer campers and one of the accused campers have since been disciplined, police said.

The sexual assaults were the result of “hazing,” or “traditions,” that were “intended to punish, intimidate and force participants to follow a group’s orders,” police said.

One student, who asked to only be identified as “S.M.” in an effort to protect her privacy, told NBC Bay Area that she was groped and fondled by a camper during a “virgin” or “prude” party. She described the incident to NBC Bay Area by telling of the incident, “I was drunk so I don’t remember a lot of it, but I do remember taking a picture of him.” She added there was “too much alcohol” at the party.

“I was too drunk to realize what was happening,” she said.

“We thought we were going to be just kids hanging out, drinking, making fun of everyone. This is the worst thing I’ve ever been through!” she said.

S.M. added that the first time she told school administrators, she felt “shameful” — “I thought the only reason why we would do something like that was because of alcohol and to make fun of people.”

“The second time, I was so embarrassed to admit it, I cried and told them how ashamed I was,” she said.

The second student she identified, who asked to be identified as “C.M.,” told NBC Bay Area that he was sexually assaulted by a camper in the group, and filed a rape allegation against the group.

C.M. told NBC Bay Area of his experience during a “prude party” on June

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