Teen Fight Club in Canada
Date: 2008-08-21 09:35:08
Source: http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/story....
Submitted By: Fight Videos
SASKATOON -- City police are contemplating criminal charges involving a teenaged boys' fight club that posted videos of their beatings on the Internet. In one video, titled No Quitters, a 16-year-old boy who initially consented to a fist fight was kicked in the head after he fell to the ground, Insp. Rick Penny said Tuesday. The boy's mother filed an assault complaint with police on the weekend. "By all accounts, it appears (the fight) may have gotten out of control," Penny said. "You can consent to a fight, but you can't consent to have bodily harm done to you." Penny did not know the extent of the boy's injuries or if he went to hospital. He said investigators will spend the next month interviewing boys in the fight club, as well as several teen spectators. Police may also seek advice from the Crown's office on whether charges should be laid. Four videos associated with the fight club were posted on YouTube, but the videos were recently pulled from the popular Web site. Penny said the video showing the boy being kicked in the head was filmed in an alley and edited with music and commentary. "While (teens) may think these things are entertainment, they're sadly mistaken," said Basil Hughton, principal of Aden Bowman Collegiate. "Because people get hurt." The boy who was kicked in the head was a Grade 10 student at Aden Bowman, but he transferred to another school this week. Hughton said the boy's mother assured him the transfer was not due to the fight club incident, although the boy talked about wanting to be accepted at school. "To teenagers having a friend is probably the most important thing in life," said Hughton. He said the school was first alerted about the fight club last May, when a teacher spotted one of the videos on YouTube. The vice-principal talked with the boys involved in the fights, as well their parents. The boys were also asked to take their videos off the Web site, which they did. But some old and new videos reappeared on the Web site in the fall. Last Friday they came to the school's attention. The vice-principal again met with boys and their parents on Monday, said Hughton. He said one boy who allegedly posted the videos on YouTube is still a student at the school. A boy who was a participant in the fights moved to the Northwest Territories last month. As far as he knows, the fights occurred about three blocks away from school property and after school let out for the day. But the school will do all it can to help with the police investigation, Hughton said. He said parents and others in the community also need to help teach children about appropriate behaviour. "As a community, I think we have a real important role to play," said Hughton. "We need to not sensationalize these things but instead talk about the impact on the victim and how there are more positive ways to get notoriety." Teens may consent to fight, he said, but there will always be a victim who is physically hurt or becomes the brunt of a joke.
