Possible hazing leads to multiple Rochester high school student suspensions

School officials in Rochester are investigating a possible hazing incident involving a group of seniors and a group of younger students at John Marshall High School.

School district spokeswoman Jennifer Pozanc said "several" seniors had been suspended after the incident, which happened last week. The Associated Press reported that 18 students were involved.

Pozanc said district officials are not yet calling the incident hazing and are still investigating. She said no students were injured and school officials didn't expect law enforcement would become involved. She said she didn't know whether the incident involved an athletic team.

Ponzanc said school administrators and the superintendent are working to "find out exactly what did happen and take proper action on those students in accordance with our disciplinary process."

"Every incident like this matters. We want to make sure we get to the bottom of it and make sure that students feel safe and secure in our schools," she said.

The Rochester School District's hazing policy, separate from the district's bullying policy, defines hazing as "committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a substantial risk of harm to a person, in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization, or for any other purpose."