Rockstar Cheer

[Lemon Drop]

There is yet another nationwide youth sports sex abuse scandal brewing, this time in competitive cheerleading.

The owner of Rockstar Cheer, Scott Foster, committed suicide a few days ago. He was the subject of a federal investigation into misconduct against girls and boys, some cases going back 20 years.

There are multiple suspects at his businesses across several states, and an alleged pattern of cover ups that extends to the national organization that oversees the sport.

The story is always the same. Activities that allow access to kids and time away from parents attract perverts. Parents have to keep sharp eyes open. Institutions will CYA.

Rockstar Cheer is based in Greenville, SC.

Foster's death will not end the investigation.

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/n...934478001/

[cbelt3]

Teach the children … no adult should ever ask you to keep something they did a secret. Always tell your parents always.

[Ca Bob]

A long time ago I remember a mutual friend referring snidely to people who "want to work with kids -- they're all perverts." I suspect that this is a bit of an exaggeration, but it makes sense that child molesters who are determined to molest will find a way to be with children. It's like Willie Sutton and robbing banks.

What is interesting is that women are coming out with their stories at all levels, ranging from the Olympic gymnasts to the USC health clinic. Apparently it is now considered proper to complain and to testify. I would guess that the mass movement against harassment in the entertainment industry was a significant part of the new openness.

[Ca Bob]

Remember also that when Donald Trump owned the Miss Universe pageant (or whichever it was) he was known to walk into the women's dressing room unannounced. Apparently there were a lot of Trump supporters who thought this was cool. It doesn't seem to me to be markedly different from other forms of harassment -- it's just the age that is different.

[$tevie]

Would it be impossible to have all of these sorts of activities monitored by a rotating shift of multiple parents or chaperones? Since it really is beginning to appear that children simply cannot be left alone with one adult. Bizarre but that's what it is coming down to.

[Ted King]

Lemon Drop wrote:
Institutions will CYA.

Of all the disgustingness of this, that institutions so consistently cover their asses rather than help the kids as soon as they find out is one of the most disgusting things. I hope they at least feel shame for the rest of their lives.

[Lemon Drop]

$tevie wrote:
Would it be impossible to have all of these sorts of activities monitored by a rotating shift of multiple parents or chaperones? Since it really is beginning to appear that children simply cannot be left alone with one adult. Bizarre but that's what it is coming down to.

At least two deep adult chaperoning has been the standard in youth activities for a long time. When my kids were young every activity had a "never be alone with somebody else's kid" rule. That's going back 25 years. Anything that involved overnight travel, lots of parents went along.

That was Scouts, soccer , band, church, everything.

It's clear that Rockstar Cheer did not have good youth protection training, practices and policies in place. That was obvioisly the preference of the person in charge, Scott Foster. So it would be up to parents to recognize the lack of safety.

[Lemon Drop]

Ted King wrote:
[quote=Lemon Drop]
Institutions will CYA.

Of all the disgustingness of this, that institutions so consistently cover their asses rather than help the kids as soon as they find out is one of the most disgusting things. I hope they at least feel shame for the rest of their lives.
It truly is disgusting. And criminal. Details still to come on this case but it sounds bad so far.