The Lost Innocence

Donald Hanson directing the American Boychoir at the Whitehouse, for the President and Mrs. Reagan

As head boy at a legendary choir school, Professor Lawrence Lessig was repeatedly molested by Donald Hanson, the charismatic choir director, part of a horrific pattern of child abuse at The American Boychoir School. Now, as one of America’s most famous lawyers, he has put his own past on trial to make sure such a thing never happens again.

Stanford Law Professor Larry Lessig is a personal hero of mine, and someone I have long admired, not only because he has been championing for the freedom of speech on the internet, but because he had the courage to stand up and make his experience known. This is not the sort of case for which Lessig is famous. At 43, Lessig has built a reputation as the king of Internet law and as the most important next-wave thinker on intellectual property. The author of three influential books on the intersection of law, politics, and digital technology, he’s the founder of Creative Commons, an ambitious attempt to forge an alternative to the current copyright regime. According to his mentor, the federal appellate judge Richard Posner, Lessig is “the most distinguished law professor of his generation.” He’s also a celebrity. On a West Wing episode last year, he was featured as a character. “The Elvis of cyberlaw” is how Wired has described him.

Read the story first, which was written by John Heilemann, published in the New York Magazine and edited by me back in August, in a simple attempt to reduce length, but very much respectful of the author and the delicate subject, and named by me  'Run Silent run Deep'. It made me cry like the litle girl I once was, tears for my own child whose entire school life still lies ahead.

The sad story of innocence lost, the story of The American Boychoir and the boys who were entrusted in their care, and who were so brutally betrayed. A subject which has laid buried for some thirty odd years, and which by sheer virtue of the lawsuit instigated by Professor Lessig's client, has been brought out into the open. And Lessig, litigating with passion on behalf of the abused child he once was, having to re-live the same gruesome memories as his client, memories which at the time seemed possibly easier to explain to himself as a twelve year old than they are now.

A reader of my blog, having read my previous article said, speaking of Professor Lessig's rise from the ashes of damage and pain: "Truly, he is emblematic of the dictum; "We are not what happens to us. We become ourselves through our reaction to events."

The American Boychoir, is still a boarding school located in Princeton, New Jersey, for boys in fifth through eighth grade. The music these "singing boys" make is beautiful -- they perform on tour throughout the United States and abroad. The photograph you see above taken at The White House, I discovered at the time of writing the other piece, and one which has provoked the most reaction. The American Boychoir performed with Beyonce at the Oscars in February this year.

I have been wanting to write about this again for some time, and the passion for doing so is revived every time I receive a comment on my post 'Run Silent Run Deep' or one of many e-mails, written by the abused alumni from the American Boychoir. All grown men now, Professor Lessig's age, all with painful memories of innocence lost , innocence which they will never get back. Innocence gone forever.

Every time, I get a fresh sense of outrage and a revived chill running down my spine, and every time I vow I will re-visit the subject. Finally  today, having received another comment from an anonymous alumni of the boychoir, I decided to sit down and put pen to paper:

"I was once proud of that White House photo and used to display it proudly in my room while in high school. Out of being sickened over the whole ordeal, I once tried to rid myself of all my memories, so I no longer have my copy. I'm trying to pinpoint the month, but this was taken between the fall of '81 and spring of '82, just before Hanson was terminated. Chances are, my innocence was already stripped when this picture was taken.

If that were the case, Hanson likely did not have an opportunity to abuse anyone in the White House bathroom as he was supposed to be kept away from the boys after he was outed. However, I might have the date wrong as it might have been in September or early October, and I can't guarantee that those keeping Hanson away from the boys were necessarily doing their job to the fullest as Hanson had full control of the show, especially while on the road."

Getty Images

This was in response to another comment from John Hardwicke who is the Plaintiff Professor Lessig is representing in the case Hardwicke v American Boychoir School, and who posted a comment out of the blue on my previously mentioned post Run Silent Run Deep:

"Re the photo of Mr. Hanson at the White House. One of my classmates who was at that White House concert told me that Mr. Hanson performed oral sex on him in a White House bathroom.

There were no limits to Mr. Hanson's depravity -- to him nothing was sacred -- least of all our innocence.

And, I am very interested in how you came to find the photo..."

Another comment left by an alumni who emailed me their identity but preferred to remain anonymous for this article:

"Some time after all these events, Donald Hanson came to the UK, and became Music Director at Bramdean School in Exeter, Devon. I was head chorister at the time of his arrival and for 3 years afterwards. I obviously had no idea about his past activities, and in fact only discovered this by chance today, when I wondered what he was up to now, and did a Google search! Needless to say I am horrified. Hanson used to live in a flat in the school building, close to the boarding school dormitories. I visited his flat on numerous occasions in the evenings to find him very drunk, but he never once attempted to touch me in any way. I did see several other boys leaving his flat during the evenings, but no-one ever said anything. But finding this out puts a whole new slant on these visits. I wonder....., but no evidence of course. I have found reading all this about a man I trusted, respected and even liked makes me feel quite sick. How a man in his position could abuse it so much with such vulnerable children."

The school (known until 1980 as the Columbus Boychoir School) has argued that, under New Jersey’s Charitable Immunity Act, a statute designed to shield nonprofits from negligence lawsuits, it can’t be held financially liable no matter how heinous Hardwicke’s abuse. If the Supreme Court agrees, Hardwicke’s case will be dismissed before even being heard by a jury. And scores of sex-abuse suits against New Jersey Catholic churches and schools will be rendered void as well. The church, not surprisingly, has weighed in on the side of the school.

The NJ Supreme Court hasn't yet ruled on the case (which was argued last November) nor has the state assembly acted on legislation passed more than a year ago by the state senate to end charitable immunity in cases of child sexual abuse. But surely no organization can be considered charitable if it maintains an environment that protects the guilty at the risk of the innocent.

Professor Lessig's latest on the case:

"Even if we win our case, the law in New Jersey would still immunize a charitable institution from “negligence” in the hiring of a teacher. That means if a school hires a teacher without taking any steps to verify the teacher’s past — for example, asking why the teacher was fired from his last job — the school is immune from liability.

Assemblymen Cohen, Chiappone, and Bateman have introduced a bill to remove that immunity, so that a school would have the same duty that all of us have — to take reasonable steps to avoid foreseeable harm, at least if that harm is sex abuse. Yet this bill has been stalled by the very powerful lobbying of some — actually, primarily, one:

Leaders from the Catholic Church have opposed the change. Some of the same leaders, representing the “Catholic Conference of Bishops,” also filed a brief in our case asking the Court to affirm the “absolute” immunity — even for intentional acts — that the trial court had found.

It is completely beyond me why the Church spends its resources to make children less safe. No doubt, the Church has its own issues about liability. But is money really a church’s only concern? Do its values really say that it is more important to avoid its own liability than to protect children in the future? Or more accurately — that it is right to protect its assets by making children in the future less safe?"

Kieran Healy @ Crooked Timber : "That seems like a weak analogy. In this case the employee was in a position to repeatedly abuse his victims by virtue of his role and the authority it carried. The school’s defence seems to come perilously close to arguing that it can’t be held responsible for any illegal action that a teacher perpetrated on a pupil, because of course illegal actions are not within the scope of the teacher’s employment.

I don’t know about the legal merits, of course, but on the basis of their past experiences, together with the evasions and blame-the-victim insinuations from the school’s President and its chief lawyer, it’s easy to see how the litigants’ could have a desire to raze the institution to the ground."

David Schraub @ The Debate Link, who also writes for The Moderate Voice, said in one of his articles:

"That Lessig could go through this and still become the man he has become displays the type of moral fiber and courage that is rare to see in this day and age. Unfortunately, it seems trite to give a patriotic statement of "support," as if this is some a of litigatory game Lessig is trying to win. Yet, I do not know what else to say, or what else I can do. So, I wish him all the luck in the world in his case. May his example serve as a beacon to all the others who have been victimized by similar atrocities."

Professor Lessig was so right when he said: "The real evil isn’t the Hitler. The evil is the good German. The evil is all those people who could’ve just picked up the goddamn telephone and stopped it."

Time Magazine printed an article about this difficult and dark subject in general, mentioning : "Some of the most heartbreaking allegations involve the American Boychoir School, a top choral program in Princeton, N.J. More than a dozen alumni from the 1960s to the '80s now say they were sexually abused by at least 11 former staff members."

Larry Lessig wrote a post on his blog at the time of the original  NY Magazine article called 'Living with Ghosts'. My heart goes out to him and the dark memories he carries with him. I hope that articles like this one help to heal the pain, in the knowledge that we care about what happened, and that we will do everything we can to stop it from ever happening again. A tall order, a big promise, but the acknowledgement that the abuse exists is a very good start.

I have sent an email to Donald B. Edwards, the President of the American Boychoir School, inviting him to comment, and will let you know the outcome.

Professor Lessig: “You underestimate the power of the human mind to ignore things that aren’t placed right in front of you.”

Well, I am placing this in front of you.

I don't sit here and judge.. I simply tell the sad story of grown men who were once the innocent boys and became the abused alumni of the American Boychoir School, and who have developed a website to commemorate their experiences. I tell the story of their Innocence Lost.

UPDATE: I just had a response from The President of The American Boychoir Donald B. Edwards, who says on a personal note:

"Although the New Jersey Supreme Court has still not handed down a decision on the legal motions in the Hardwicke case, all other claims have been equitably resolved.  Mr. Hardwicke told New York Magazine that he considers the $200,000 settlement offer the School made four years ago to be “insulting,” but we are continuing our efforts to reach an equitable resolution of his lawsuit."

He goes on to list the class of 2005 achievements:

"When they sang America and Amazing Grace with Jessye Norman on CBS Television to mark the third anniversary of September 11, they reminded the millions of Americans who saw them of the power of music to bind us together and heal our wounds.
Collectively, they gave more than 300 performances in 37 states and four foreign countries.  They sang with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and gave four performances with the New York Philharmonic, eight with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and ten with The Philadelphia Orchestra."

And then includes a letter, which was originally sent to The New York Magazine:

"The faculty, students, parents and trustees of The American Boychoir School find it almost impossible to comprehend the picture of their school that John Heilemann paints in “The Choirboy”

We know that The American Boychoir School today is a safe and healthy place where students are taught that they can – and must – talk to trusted adults – their parents, teachers, houseparents, music directors – about any sign of abuse – physical, emotional or sexual.  We are deeply sorry that John Hardwicke, Larry Lessig, and a number of other students were abused by Donald Hanson in the 1970's and that they did not feel there was anyone they could tell, even in later years.  The evil Hanson did has now made victims not only of the boys he abused but also of the School he betrayed.

There is little any of us can do outside the legal process to address the past.  We will, however, continue to speak out about the value of the ABS experience for so many generations of students and reaffirm our commitment to the mission of building character and community through the power of music.  Allowing Hanson's crimes to rob today's students of the unique benefits of an American Boychoir education would only compound the abuse."

I have also received an enormous amount of emails today, some of which comes from alumni who tell me that despite all that was happening at the time:

"These years encompass some of the best in my life and I would have not traded it for anything".

"We were a special bunch of kids. Smarter than the average and certainly more talented. If you look back for over 1000 years on boychoirs and schools for boys, including our 'counterparts' in Vienna, this sort of thing happens. Right or wrong, it happens and a lot happened without the aide of Donald Hanson."

But most of them, I choose not to quote, as they may be disturbing to my readers. For me, this has been quite a journey today, into a deep and dark world I know nothing about. The feelings I have right now are difficult to process.

The Anchoress, who has featured my article today on her blog, had kind words of comfort via email. As always, the rock that she is to us all.

Professor Larry Lessig, mentions this article on his blog, giving a brief update on the state of play, and setting a bush fire through the journals, blogs and chat lines on the blogosphere, which due to the incredible amount of different entries and numerous blog references are difficult to follow:

"Though we argued the case almost a year ago (11/29), there’s no word from the Court. I am very surprised at the delay — indeed, a bit worried the delay is in part because of the New York Magazine article. I feel so stupid that I didn’t get a commitment from them not to publish the article before the case was decided. When they told me when they expected it would run, it was months beyond the normal time it take the NJ Supreme Court to decide cases. Anyway, bottom line — no word yet."

NOVEMBER 8TH UPDATE: I am amazed at the incredible eloquence, sincerity and warmth with which the alumni write their emails relaying their experiences. An excerpt from another I received moments ago:

"I was molested by Donald Hanson in Oct 1981. Luckily for me, my upbringing and probably God's protection gave me the courage to stand up to Hanson.

I was a second year student in 8th grade.  I usually went home on the weekend, but shortly before Halloween, I decided to stay.
[...] 
Hanson learned of my trouble sleeping and invited me up to his suite.  Unfortunately I took the offer. That night, feeling more secure with  friendly adult nearby, I fell asleep.  That is when the real horror began. I awoke in the middle of the night [...] It took me a little time to realize that I wasn't dreaming. Coming to my senses and scared, I did not move or let on that I had awaken.[...] I was terrified, but I was able to gain the courage to confront him and make it stop.

I remained awake in my room for the remainder of the night.  Once morning arrived,  I called my parents and told them what had occurred. Later that morning I confided with a roommate and learned that he had been previously molested as well.

My parents came to school and pleaded for the removal of Donald Hanson.  Initially there was a lot of resistance/denial from Stephen Howard and the board.  My parents threatened legal action and eventually the board came around and reluctantly sided with me. [...] My mother and the board came to an agreement where Donald Hanson was allowed to remain as the choir director until after the planned spring tour, but his residence was moved off site and he was no longer allowed to interact with the boys unsupervised.
[...]
The year I was abused,  I was also given the responsibility to carry Mr Hanson's luggage.  This responsibility involved going to Mr Hanson's  room every day we were on tour, to retrieve his luggage,  load it on the bus and then take back to his room at the next destination .  I also became a soloist that year, which required private voice lesson's with Mr Hanson. I now believe that Mr. Hanson may have put me in these relationships as a way to court me.     I see a similar pattern with many of the other abuse cases.

During my two years, many boys would go to Mr Hanson's room after the official "lights out".  It was kind of a club, where those of us who were not invited were jealous and felt left out.  Sometimes former choir boys or friends of Hanson's would be there as well.    I don't know if any of the boys in the "club" during my two years were abused, but I speculate this to be the case as it fits the pattern of stories told to me from prior years.  At the time, I thought these boys were privileged as many of them were either soloists or head/assistant head boy, but now I realize that this privilege was most likely an unfortunate curse and I likely failed my initiation.
[...]
It's also great that Lawrence and John are fighting the law in NJ. I think it is a must to rid NJ of the shield law or at least modify it. There is no way the original law was intended  to protect charities in this manner. While I can understand that the school doesn't want to take responsibility for  problems that occurred before any of the active staff worked at the school, you can't create a law that completely shields an organization from responsibility.  Modify  the current law and then let the law makers or courts decide if the school can be held liable for terrible deeds from the past.   Unfortunately for the schools, even though the staff has changed, the entity has not.  If an entity is negligent, simply turning over the staff should not absolve the entity of responsibility."

NOVEMBER 9 UPDATE: I just received a very long email from John Hardwicke, I have edited it, so here it is:

[...]
"I particularly appreciate your sensitivity and the comments others from the school posted.
[...]
But Don Edwards remarks are so upsetting to me -- he in not being truthful: he hasn't equitably settled all other claims against the school. Currently at least one other suit that I know of is pending against the Boychoir. I called the plaintiff this evening to ask if his claim has been settled. It has not. No offer has even been made (but the school did file to defend itself).

And the school hasn't made any serious attempt to settle with me [...] I believe it ought to be my right to have the truth heard -- all of it -- before a jury rather than covered by some kind of confidentiality agreement. While the school did initially offer a small amount of money for me to go away, at two different court ordered settlement conferences, the school made no offer to settle the case.

[...] It really bothers me that Mr. Edwards would act as though the school has tried to be reasonable when in point of fact they've argued all the way to the state supreme court that they should not be held responsible for the sexual abuse of children.
[...]
It is all way too much and it is all too much and that the school fights me and says they've been forthcoming on these charges when really they've covered this whole thing up decade after decade after decade. They say the school is a safe place today, but how can that be when they maintain they can't be held responsible for the safety of children in their charge.  How can it be safe today, when DYFS was called to the school three years ago to investigate situations of sexual misconduct, How can it be safe today when a mother testified last year about her son's abuse at the school in 2002. How can it be safe today when I hear from alumni of the 1990s who say they can attest to the truth on my website.

I don't' know Alexandra, life is difficult.

I don't like any of this. Somebody in New Jersey has to help. The court, the lawmakers, the school, the police, the prosecutor's office. Somebody. And I've tried them all, but none is willing or able to do anything.

I feel like the little kid whose father is abusing her and she goes to her mom and finally tells only to be admonished by her mother for saying such bad things.

Nobody will help and for all your kind words and for all the letters of support from others, still the law in New Jersey doesn't protect me. Doesn't forgive me. Doesn't acknowledge that I was just a little kid and that others were supposed to take care of me and they didn't.

He destroyed me and the school watched while he did -- everybody knew -- it was common knowledge what was going on as teacher after teacher molested boy after boy.

The cook, the headmaster, two choir directors, unnumbered teachers, a gardener, friends of staff, neighbors of the school, decade upon decade molested kids.

A boy was found dead suffocated by chloroform, his underwear off,  in a room adjacent to where I slept several years earlier. Children who were my classmates and others I never met were sodomized and raped within the same walls I lived.

What can I do? I've talked to these boys, now men, and they carry scars -- some are addicted to pornography or drugs or sex or worse.  What can I do?

I fear there is no justice on earth. I don't want revenge, I don't even think I want Mr. Hanson to go to jail. I don't know what I want beyond having a jury hear and let them decide."

FURTHER UPDATE: This article has received the most unbelievable attention of any article I have written on this blog thus far, (the most traffic from all over the Blogosphere),  including the current affairs section which is always the most popular.

It stands to show that we do care, that we do acknowledge, and that no matter how unsavory or difficult the subject is, we ultimately face it, despite perhaps not wishing to leave a comment.

FURTHER UPDATE: Another two comments from abused alumni, one of whom is sickened by the realization that the Chairman of the school at the time, who knew about his abuse back in 1981 is still associated with the school today. Read the whole comment made by 'ABC' in the section below, and then read the relevant comment section from Lessig's post that it relates to. Scroll down to the comment made by Jeanmarie Tissot.

And another which should be read in it's entirety, but here is an excerpt:

"Perhaps the President, Mr. Edwards would do well to realize that any damage done to the prestigous AMERICAN BOYCHOIR SCHOOL is not because victims such as Mr Hardwicke or Professor Lessig have spoken out. It is because the institution which ALLOWED these heinous acts to occur in the first place, continues to minimize, refuses to be accountable and certainly isn't taking responsability.

THE REAL PICTURE.......

If the parents and students attending the school today (who definetly don't deserve to be associated with the past failings of this school's leadership)are mad at anybody for the continued media coverage of the schools dark chapter in history, they should blame Mr. Edward's and the schools' legal counsel who have failed to close this festering wound!"

Comments

[Javez (not my real name!!)]

I was also a chorister at Bramdean, and have only just heard this story. I was a boarder there for some times, including 4 years in the choir, from age 13 to 17. I can back up a few comments from above.

First, there was no indication of any imporpriety in Bramdean Choir. It was a very small school, and very close knit amongst the boarders - I'm pretty sure something would have got round if it had been happening.

Second, there has certainly been no attempt to contact me regarding these issues, and I have been in touch with the school over recent years on an unrelated issue. They could easily have asked me if anything had happened, but it appears they chose not to.

Quite a shocker, really. I can see why the school would try to play this down - not the best publicity for a fee-paying school.

[BOB]

I'm another former pupil and chorister at Bramdean and joined the school in the same year as Donald Hanson. In conjunction with other pieces i have read here I had no idea about his past activities, and in fact only discovered this by chance today, when googling my old school and wandering about past teachers and was horrified to read about Donald Hanson.

I borded at the school for a number of years and can remember that he had a suite next door to the dormitories. Although i never visited his flat in the evenings i can remember other boys doing so, but nothing was ever mentioned by them. I can also remember he was quite a heavy drinker, but i know that often the evenings after choir practise he would spend with the principals/owners of the school and they all enjoyed a "tipple"
I can't believe that the principals of the school would have allowed Donald Hanson to live in such close proximity if they had known about his past.

In reference to the blog made by "Anonymous" on Nov 14th 2005. Which mentions a statement from the school. I can contradict that because i was a chorister and was not at the time or at anytime since made aware of Donald Hanson's past history by them.

This does'nt surprise me and i'm in agreement with Papal Bull's blog, my opinion of the school was'nt brilliant. The teachers & their methods of teaching at the time were not sympathetic to the needs of the pupils and as like many others i'm sure, i had to improve my qualifications at other institutions. The experience certainly put me off private education for my kids!!

[JTbyGrace]

This is very interesting to me. I was molested, or attempted to be molested in the middle of the night in the darkened and seemingly unoccupied Columbus Boychoir mansion (I think they were on tour) back in the mid seventies by the then choir director of Christ Church Episcopal, New Brunswick. Now I was not a minor, I was 18 or 19. I had sung in the boychoir of Christ Church New Brunswick from 4th grade through graduation of high school. I was also sexually involved immediately post my minorship by the very excellent director of Christ Church Men and Boys Choir, George Huddleston, now passed away. Huddleston had retired close to the end of my time at the boychoir in New Brunswick (who was then replaced by the director who aggressed me in the dark halls of Columbus Boychoir mansion). Now again, I was NOT a minor by maybe even months, and I was consenting to be on this date with the director. We had been hanging out with upper echelon of boychoir (read gay) culture in Princeton. By the time we got to the mansion it was the middle of the night and I was alone with the choir director who at the time was also my piano teacher. I did not want to be aggressed by him and had to fight him off physically on the floor, politely but with a sure amount of loss of dignity. I take responsibility of this because I was not a minor and I was struggling with my sexual identity, who with the blessed of an assured instinct for the inherent moral dilemma of homosexuality, found finally the only balm and solace to increasingly heal me in coming to Christ later in life. I have another story: I did not know Donald Hanson's name from memory, but upon looking up his picture he is certainly the man that once when I was quite younger and impressionable, umm probably in 8th or 9th grade - I think, though am not positive that Huddleston was still director.......but anyway Hanson came to guest conduct our choir, or he brought some of his boys to sing with us, I forget; but he was THERE in the choir room, with his waving longish hair, on Sunday morning and while we were all getting into our vestments there he stripped down to very flimsy bikini underwear, brieflyl but obviously showing what he "had", apparently by some feigned necessity in means for his garment change. My eyeballs popped out of my head. These stories are sad. It was the times. You know the gay community was "finding" itself in "coming out" which was essentially an explosion of sexual activity in all the American cities and this was reflected through many places more than just the bold gay bar environment as we have later discovered. Sadly too, we let homosexuality now post HIV to charade as a worthy cause to institutionalize today which is merely a later chapter of this degrading process of loosing ourselves in a society and culture that mocks the decency of God's will for us.

[Papal Bull]

I went to Bramdean. So did my younger brother. Nothing happened to me or to him and he was in the choir for years with Hanson after I left - but he wasn't a "boarder", he was a "day boy", i.e. he went home each night. However, we were both shocked, sickened, gutted and disappointed by what we read about him on the net and elsewhere.

But... it doesn't surprise me at all that Bramdean didn't want to contact the Alumni. After 7 years there, I didn't have a great opinion of the place. Second rate teachers who acted as bullies for most of the time, and owners who still call themselves "headmasters" when in fact they'd merely bought the school. I have a HUGE suspicion that they suspected Hanson and gave him a warning about future conduct in order to manage to get someone of his calibre at the tiny little school in a small town. The choir was the "headmaster's" pride and joy and he hardly gave thought about much else at the school. What on earth would someone like Hanson have seen in Bramdean? Nothing except escape.

I feel that the school knowlingly put pupils at risk and their reaction to the news "going public" now merely strengthens my opinion. Awful place. Certainly in the 80s and early 90s. I will never forgive them for this even though my brother and I came through my time with Hanson unscathed. What a talent. What a pianist. What a waste.

[Stacy Horn]

Where did you get the details about Chet Allen's life after Amahl? I just did a search to find out whatever happened to him and read this sad story.

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I do not want to give my name but I had recently graduated from the American Boychoir School. I really do feel sorry for all the alumni that had to endure such an act by Donald Hanson and I know that his name is not repeated freefully on our campus.

Throughout my 4 years at the choir school, I have NOT gone through any such acts from our adults. In fact, I would have to say that our adults were a bit too overprotective. It sickens me to hear that you would want this school to be demolished because of deeds by adults that were at the school decades ago. The institution is not the same as it was in the 80's and all our faculty and staff are extremely dilagent and hardworking people.

I hope that you understand that it would be unfair and wrong to blame the events that occurred on the present American Boychoir School and instead prosecute the individiuals that did such an act.

[Anon]

Knowing Donald Hanson as I do, it is impossible for me to imagine that he did not molested children at Bramdean School in the UK -- and don't psychologists almost universally agree that without treatment someone like Hanson who abused repeatedly would continue to abuse.

I was in touch with school administrators at Bramdean about a year ago and was told they would NOT contact alumni to tell them about charges against Donald Hanson by scores of American kids.

When Dr. Barry Rose recommended Hanson, did Rose know that Hanson was fired from the American Boychoir for molesting boys? We'll probably never know.

But I was surprised and disapointed by Bramdean's response last year(or lack of respose). Bramdean's alumni deserve to be notified.

Many members of the Boychoir have found strength in numbers and have begun to confront the fact that they'd been abused and they are just now beginning to heal.

I hope the stories about Donald Hanson circulate far and wide throughout Bramdean School alumni.

[Anonymous]

Alexandra,
I don't know what contact anyone has had with the school in England, and without knowing what has been said can't really comment, but I too have been in touch with them and have received this (edited) response:

"we were
extremely shocked to learn of the allegations made against Donald
Hanson. We have contacted previous choir members and, without
exception, they all speak very highly of his behaviour and the manner
in which he conducted himself during his time at Bramdean. Before
engaging Donald I made enquiries as to his suitability as a choir
trainer from Dr Barry Rose who, unreservedly recommended him and said,
and I quote "he's your man!""

So to say that they have done nothing to investigate is perhaps erroneous.
I personally know the gentleman who wrote this, and am sure that he wouldn't say he had contacted people without actually doing it. However, I am not sure how many people contacted in this way so many years later would actually want to admit that they had been abused.
Other than contacting fromer choir members and asking them, I don't really see what more investigation can be done? It is not really a similar scenario, as the school in England was not a hotbed of paedophile activity as is alleged in NJ, with many people involved in systematic abuse. In fact I was at the school for 10 years and even in the time that Hanson was there, there was never any indication whatsoever of any abuse.

[Mark Goebel]

Beyond the mind games and the power struggles and the sexual assults, one conversation Donald Hanson had with one of my schoolmates haunts me more than anything else. Hanson methodically listed the boys he'd abused and describbed which ones would survive the expereince and which ones would not. The bastard knew he was ruining lives. He even joked about those who were too weak to survive.

As for Mr. Hobler, it is about time someone investgates his relationship and support of Hanson. Hobler wrote the letter of reccomendation, after Hanson dismissal for abusing boys, that landed Hanson at the job at the private school in England. Isn't also true that the current and past President of the school attained these lofty positions after being emplyees of Mr Hobler? And, where was Mr. Hobler when the school put Hanson on the tour bus full of boys and drove him to Canada?

The behavior of the adminstration at the American Boychoir School has the exect same pattern of blame the victim and trust us that things are better that the catholic church fronts. These are clearly positions ascribed by the lawyers. But all of the settlements with hearing and all of the shields of immunity and statutes of limitations don't heal wounds nor bring closure to the past.

[Anon]

I wonder if this means anything...

http://www.tmtix.com/content/news.cfm/story/1859
december 28, 2001

Sad to relate, the 12-year-old American Boychoir soprano who first played Amahl never saw 50: Chet Allen committed suicide at 44 by taking five times the lethal dose of an anti-depressant medication he'd been hoarding. His fabulously sung, go-for-broke, eerily on-target performance as Amahl had got him into the 1952 movie Meet Me at the Fair with Dan Dailey and Diana Lynn. Then his voice, along with his life, changed: As a baritone, he stayed with the Columbus Boychoir until the 11th grade, then finished high school and never sang or acted again. In and out of psychiatric hospitals for years afterward, Allen held down a variety of jobs including a 10-year stint as a stockboy for a local store. At the screening, Menotti explained that Allen needed more care and attention than anyone could give him. The composer had visited him in Columbus and found a man-boy, still in the throes of Amahl, unable to get beyond that defining role.

[Alexandra]

M S,

I am going to publish the last two paragraphs of your comment in the main article and point to the rest of the comment, which I think is very poignant.

ABC,

I will point to the comment section again.

I am sickened by that now, somehow it went under my radar when I was reading Larry Lessig's site. It's in that long letter one of the mothers had written?

Does the music come above everything in that school? There are abusers in this world who are extremely talented, as Hanson is, but does that excuse their behavior in the eyes of the school?
This is a darkness in his character that simply overshadows the light, and the brilliance. It makes the brilliance dull, and no amount of praise by the school changes that.

[ABC Boy]

I just read a post from back in May on Lessig's blog that makes me ill. I had all the pieces, but never put it together until reading that post.

Herbert Hobler is currently still associated with the school http://www.americanboychoir.org/support_endow_cabinet.html. He absolutely knew I was abused back in '81. For Edwards to claim that the school in now a victim since those responsible are no longer part of the school is now false. Hobler himself may have been an enabler for Hanson.

Here is a quote from the blog: http://www.lessig.org/blog/archives/002912.shtml

"I have a copy of a letter written April 30, 1982 from Herbert Hobler (chairman) to Donald Hanson (who was then in London). As far as I am concerned, he typifies what the American Boychoir’s “official” stance is even today. He praises Hanson for his contributions
and says “I am so pleased that the sad parting took place after the choir was fully trained” “without your years of input, we would not have the quality, image and guidelines you established and which I know will keep us on solid ground.” It ends with “I am most anxious to have you keep in touch, Don. Keep me posted and let me know if I can be of help in any way.”

Hobler knew very well Hanson molested me, which is why he was terminated and according the NY Magazine article he almost definitely knew Lessig was abused as well. If Hanson went on to abuse others due to Hobler's letter, then I can only assume Hobler partially enabled the abuse.

I'm astonished that the school can continue to affiliate themselves with someone who had complete disregard for victims and the evil that occured at the school. The school voluntarily associates themselves with someone who praised a known child molester. If Hobler had felt any slight tiny bit of sorrow for what I went through, that letter would never have been written. If Hobler had even one slight tiny bit of remorse for what occured back in '81 and before and what was written to Hanson, he would be doing absolutely everything in his power to support the victims that he so blatantly stabbed in the back.

The school is not a "victim" as Edwards says. If this were even remotely true, the school would have distanced themselves from Hobler long ago. Unfortunately, Edwards wants to leverage the reputation of the one of the finest boychoirs in the world while blackening the eye of many Alumni who suffer as a direct result of building that great reputation.

[male survivor]

After reading the atrocities committedd at the American Boychoir School (ABS) in Princeton it is clear to me that the school's president Donald B. Edwards just doesn't get it!

We are not talking about just one victim or a one time occurance. Many children were abused by not just Donald Hanson but other staff members of ABS for many years. We were children...we did not ask to be molested nor were we able to talk about what was done to the children for they were profoundly confused and ashamed. The leadership of the American Boychoir School grossly failed to protect the children in its care.

All of the victims have a right to expect the perpatrators and the school who allowed it, to TAKE RESPONSABILITY, BE ACCOUNTABLE and to help HEAL and BRING CLOSURE. All of which the ABS and its leaders have been unwilling and/or unable to do.

If Mr. Edwards even remotely understood the sexual molestation of children and its profound effects, he wouldn't be stating "he felt sorry that Lessig and Hardwicke and the many others didn't feel they could tell anyone at the school, even years later". He would understand...children DON'T come forward, not for many years.

It appears Mr Edward's implies that somehow offering Mr. Hardwicke 200K and a confidentiality agreement (implied by Mr. Harddwicke) should somehow suffice for his abuse as a child. Again, Mr. Edward's cannot possibly understand...there is no amount of money which will repair those who were abused as children. Perhaps the money is not what Mr. Hardwicke wants, perhaps he is waiting for the day he can tell his story in court. Then perhaps the whole truth will be told.

How is it that Mr. Edwards can say that the school is trying to reach an equitable resolution to his lawsuit when the school is quick to invoke immunity protections because this institution has paperwork which declares it is a "charity". Hiding behind state laws granting such immunity is JUST INCREDIBLE! Families paid significant money to send their children to ABS. Your good works don't make up for past transgressions. ONLY actions you take today can heal these victims.

It is not surprising that the Catholic Church Attorneys have come to the aid of the ABS. Both institutions continue to minimize what was done to these children. Both institutions treat this as a purely legal matter. Both institutions see itself as the victim. Mr Edward's said "the evil Hanson did has now made victims not only of the boys he abused but also of the school he betrayed". The SCHOOL IS NOT THE VICTIM HERE.....THE CHILDREN ARE!

Finally after reading the beautiful website of the American Boychoir School I see that Mr. Edward's saw fit to use the page on "child protection" as an attack of Mr. Hardwicke and the mother who recently addressed NJ law makers regarding her sons abuse at the school. Clearly the school IS very defensive here...this is no way to state ones policies on child protection. Still...the school is refusing to take responsability, refusing accountability and not allowing closure for those whom it failed!

Perhaps the President, Mr. Edwards would do well to realize that any damage done to the prestigous AMERICAN BOYCHOIR SCHOOL is not because victims such as Mr Hardwicke or Professor Lessig have spoken out. It is because the institution which ALLOWED these heinous acts to occur in the first place, continues to minimize, refuses to be accountable and certainly isn't taking responsability.

THE REAL PICTURE.......

If the parents and students attending the school today (who definetly don't deserve to be associated with the past failings of this school's leadership)are mad at anybody for the continued media coverage of the schools dark chapter in history, they should blame Mr. Edward's and the schools legal counsel who have failed to close this festering wound!

[Alexandra]

Mark,

I don't understand why this is a subject no one wants to deal with when the abuse may involve other children. I feel that reading through the emails and the comments, there would be an albeit limited, but still satisfaction in stopping Hanson from perpetrating any further. It is quite outrageous that the school in England is not willing to investigate.

Read the comment made by someone on my other article Run Silent Run Deep, who was a pupil at that school in England. Having goggled to find Hanson, he came on the blog and got quite a shock.

Aside from the statute, the time effort and money it would take to hunt someone down and go through the mill of alerting, investigating, living through it all over again....

What is the most distressing is that none of the boys, now men, are getting CLOSURE. That's what they all want, CLOSURE TO BRING SOME SMALL MEASURE OF PEACE.

[Mark Goebel]

I understand the point that the people running the school now are not the people who were running the school then. But, to conclude from that that we need to trust them and believe that everything is okay is just outrageous, especially since the only recourse offered by the school is legal action. There are hundreds of boys who were abused over decades and we are still alive. We have been stripped of our dignity during the abuse, in the quiet years afterwards when many were afraid to talk and again, now that we can talk publicly about our torment. Some justice hangs in balance in the NJ Supreme Court and the NJ Legislature, but for anyone following these efforts you will see that there is too little and it is too late. Plus there is still a chance that these efforts will fail and children in NJ will remain at risk. We are not given a real way to reconcile what happened to us and between us while we were at the school. Hanson lives in Canada, unreachable by the law. Who knows what he is doing. And, recent contact with his neighbors asked why the victims don't pursue him? It is because we cannot by law and the statute of limitations. Hanson had a job at the school in England mentioned in their blog, but attempts by his victims to have the school consider that victims may exist there have been ignored.

This story will fade away, again and again. But the victims will suffer until they don't suffer anymore!

[ABC Boy]

Except for a few articles and a couple blogs, I'm amazed at how little publicity this scandal has received relative to the Catholic Church. I believe the magnitude and severity of the cases far exceed the Catholic Church. Obviously, this is because the church touches many, many more lives personally, but if you truly think about it, Donald Hanson and others literally had a buffet of innocent young boys to feed upon; boys who were practically imprisoned within the walls of the mansion. Hanson was living in a "pedophile's utopia", if there is such a thing.

If the Supreme Court of NJ rules against John, it will be unfortunate and practically give licenses to charities to be negligent. I can't image this would occur. I'm not sure of the court's options, but I would assume the court could aviod ruling by handing the law back to the legislature.

John has been quite courageous and has done a lot for those abused. Many alumni have come forward now knowing they are not alone; although, it can be argued that it can do better, the school has become more vigilant in child protection procedures and education; finally, parents of children everywhere will be much more cautious before entrusting their children with others.

No matter what the court decides, John is a unknown hero to many who will avoid abuse due to his fight.

[ABC Boy]

The touring choir is performing and a few boys from the training choir are just left of RR. This performance was probably one of my top 5 memories during my two years at the school. Many of us had the opportunity to shake hands with RR.

I don't believe the abuse was usually "violent", but more coerced. Hanson worked as most predators do, building trust and taking advantage of it, which is why the school, on one occasion, insensitively tried to defend itself saying the boy's consented. However, "violent" is probably best defined by each victim as the word is probably defined differently by each. I also don't want to necessarily indicate that there was no violence. However, after talking to a few other alumni, the severity and continuous nature of abuse was most definitely real.

In my personal situation, I awoke to Donald Hanson already having his way with me. This was most likely his last opportunity to prey upon the innocence at the school.

[Semanticleo]

When I look at the picture and see RWR and Nancy observing, and unaware, it reminds me of all the caring adults who naively dismiss the possibility that such things could occur.

It is only by confronting our fears and apprehension that we may address their root causes, and gradually eliminate the atmosphere that allows it. Note, I do not say eliminate the abuse. That is way down the road. But, being "cautious as serpents, yet innocent as doves" will mandate fewer opportunites for damage to the young and tender among us.

[drew barton]

Alexandra, where did you find the second picture? I am assuming that it must have been staged... It yanked me straight into the story. No mercy here. But I have a problem. Has the abuse always been this violent? I recall some of the boys using terms like 'friendship', 'closeness', 'intimacy when telling of their experiences? Doesn't make it better though, huh?!

[Alexandra]

Patrick,

It warms my heart to hear you say that. I was anxious to hear what your view would be, and am glad you agree.

The Pope is keen to clean up house, but not enough moves are being made in this direction, if the church is willing to publicly take the side of the school, who are clearly protecting one thing, and one thing only - their coffers.

[Patrick O'Hannigan]

Sounds to me like New Jersey's Charitable Immunity Act needs a second look, if only to distinguish between simple negligence and depravity. It's also distressing, but not surprising, to find the official church on the wrong side here. American bishops have been slow to clean house in ways that the pope has suggested, and church structure gives them more autonomy than many non-Catholics realize.

[north by Northwest]

It is important to hear this story! It is important to recognize that predators lurk everywhere. It is important to remember that telling these stories is not an attack on Christianity or on the Christian Faith. It is important not to feel defensive and and as a result thereof response with rejection or attempts to dismiss... We all know it happened and is happening and will continue to happen....

Compassion is what we should feel, not guilt! And those who are responsible need to terminate any and all causes that lead to such abuse of authority and power. And they do need to take responsibility.

[lilly]

I am lost for words. I feel a sense of outrage and could imagine how parents and children who had been abused feel. There should be a most severe punishment for such people who take advantage of innocent and helpless children.

The recognition by the school itself, would be a positive way forward to believing that it will not happen again.

[antimedia]

I'm stunned. I hardly know what to say. I hope the lawsuit is successful.