Two UCLA students sue alumni summer camp after forced drinking, sexual assault, 'dangerous' hazing

Two University of California students, who were hired to work as counselors for a summer camp for UCLA alumni, are now suing Bruin Camp after they were allegedly subjected to violent hazing and abuse.

Samea Derrick, 19, and Lydia Dixon, 20, were two of some 53 UCLA student counselors, including about 30 new counselors and 20 returning counselors, hired to work at Bruin Woods over the summer, but they left after a week of what they describe as "intolerable living conditions" and abuse disguised as decades-old traditions.

"We know there are more victims, but many fear speaking out or turning against other staffers because of a pervasive culture of secrecy," Scott Carr, an attorney for the plaintiffs with the Los Angeles Law firm Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, told Fox News Digital in a statement. "We’ve filed this lawsuit to expose the dangerous and damaging behavior at Bruin Woods and to hold the UC Regents accountable for allowing it to fester for decades."

UCLA said in a statement that "sexual violence, sexual harrassment and hazing of any kind is reprehensible and intolerable."

"When we learned of the alleged incidents earlier this year, they were referred to our Title IX Office and are being handled according to university policies and procedures," the school said. "We’re not able to comment further on the details of these matters because we want to protect the privacy of those involved. Our top priority is the well-being of our students, staff and families, and we have robust policies in place to review all claims of misconduct."

Bruin Woods was founded in 1985 as a retreat for UCLA alumni and their families and hires about 50 current UCLA students each year to work as boat drivers, lifeguards, age group counselors, outdoor activities instructors, arts and crafts instructors and so on. 

The jobs are "highly coveted" because they present an "opportunity to develop alumni relationships that can lead to future success," the lawsuit states.

And while traditions like skinny-dipping have been around for a long time, Derrick and Dixon say they were subjected to much worse, including sleep depravation, food deprivation, inability to lock residence doors, forced isolation and restricted cell phone use, insufficient breaks, dehydration, harassment and intimidation. 

"Further, as part of their employment, Plaintiffs and other new hires were forced to participate in various BRUIN WOODS ‘Traditions’ that involved physical, mental, emotional, and sexual abuse that amounted to hazing," the lawsuit states.

Traditions included "coercive alcohol consumption," "physical abuse and sensory deprivation," "forced nudity," "threats," and "sexual abuse."

In one instance, while driving up to the camp, new counselors were forced to drink alcohol before they were driven up winding roads and encouraged not to throw up. 

On a different evening, Dixon lost consciousness from drinking too much alcohol, and a male counselor sexually assaulted her while she was asleep, the two women told the Los Angeles Times. The plaintiffs allege that "forced nudity was a recurring experience in the first week of official employment."

A packing list for new counselors includes fake identification for those under 21 years old, condoms and birth control, according to the lawsuit.

In another example of abuse, plaintiffs were forced to walk into a warehouse on the campground without shoes and with pillowcases over their heads. They then had to hold their arms up until they lost circulation, the lawsuit states. 

Lastly, plaintiffs say they were not allowed to contact friends or family. They left after one week of the 11-week program, according to the complaint.

Dixon and Derrick are seeking $50,000 in damages for the physical and emotional harm they say they endured due to the camp's alleged negligence, hazing, gender violence, assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violations of the Bane Act and Ralph Act.

‘Battle Of Good Vs. Evil’: Read Matt Walsh’s Full Speech Delivered At The ‘Rally To End Child Mutilation’

On Friday, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh held the “Rally to End Child Mutilation,” an event that developed as an outgrowth of Walsh’s campaign against childhood gender ideology.

“Thank you, everyone. I want to thank all of our speakers for being a part of this event. We’re going to hear from a wide range of voices today — activists, academics, politicians, and de-transitioners — and we a very grateful for all of them. I want to thank especially all of you for coming out here today to show your support for this cause,” Walsh started.

“Now, these people here don’t want you to hear what we have to say because they’re cowards. They can’t engage in the argument. All they could try to do is shut us down and silence us, but it’s not going to work. We’re still here. We’re not going anywhere. We’re still here,” Walsh continued.

“So, what is the cause that we are here for? It’s very simple. We are here to fulfill one of our most fundamental obligations as Americans. As adults. As human beings. And that is to protect our children. That is why we’re here. If we will not stand up for them, then who will? If it’s not us, then who stands for them? The people out there shouting — they’re not going to stand for the kids. They stand for victimizing and preying upon kids. So it falls to us.”

“Now, here’s the fact of the matter: There is — in this state and all across the country — a conspiracy to target and indoctrinate our children into the cult of gender ideology. It’s a cult which fosters delusion and intentionally creates an identity crisis in young, impressionable kids. It’s a cult which convinces them that gender doesn’t exist — that they have no identity. It’s a path to confusion and despair,” the host said. “Now, for years, this has been happening right here in the state of Tennessee, not far from where we currently stand, as my team and I uncovered Vanderbilt hospital got into the gender transition game because it’s ‘a big moneymaker.’ Those are their own words.”

“And soon, they were drugging and mutilating adults, as well as children. Now, let me ask you: As Tennesseans, do we believe in castrating children do we believe in that? No. Do we believe in drugging and mutilating kids? They believe it — we don’t. Are we going to allow this in our state? Are we going to do what they want us to do? Which is to sit back in silence and allow our kids to be victimized?” Walsh stated. “Now, I have four kids and two more on the way. And like so many of you, I live every day constantly aware of the world that’s out there, of these people who want to prey upon my kids. My kids have no idea what these people will try to do to them. It’s not fair. It’s not right that our kids live in a culture — in a country like that.”

“But here’s the thing — I will not leave it to my kids to fight this fight. We don’t leave it to our kids. We stand up, and we fight. It isn’t our kid’s battle — it’s ours — and we’re not just fighting to protect our kids from mutilation — in the name of gender transition — we’re fighting that, but at an even deeper level, we are fighting for truth. That’s what we stand for. We stand for absolute truth. That’s what we stand for right there.”

“And that brings me to one final point that I need to make. The other side — the side that supports mutilating and drugging kids. They know they have no argument. They have nothing they can say. So they lie,” the host said. “And one of the most ridiculous lies that they tell is that they want to affirm kids. They’re not affirming the child. They’re affirming confusion. They’re affirming despair. That’s what they’re affirming.”

“Now, we do not affirm confusion, we affirm the child. When a child is confused, we affirm him. We give him the sort of affirmation that he desperately longs for and needs, and deserves. That’s what we do. That’s our message. And it’s a message that we hope resonates — not just across the city or this state — but all across the country because we’re building a movement, and we’re not going anywhere. We’re not going to rest until every child is protected from this madness.”

“So the other side: they can shout, and they could scream, and they could call us whatever names they want. None of that will dissuade us because this is a battle of good versus evil. And we are fighting for good. We’re fighting for what is true. We’re fighting for people who cannot fight for themselves and shouldn’t have to. That’s what we’re fighting for. We’re in this for the long haul for as long as it takes. This is only the beginning. I promise you that. Thank you all God bless.”

Walsh unexpectedly addressed the crowd once more after the barrage of protestors interrupted every speaker.

“I was only supposed to speak once today, but the trolls in the audience gave me such a warm reception. I thought I’d come out again because the way it works — if you try to shut me up or drown me out — I just keep talking. That’s the way this goes,” Walsh said. “That’s true of everybody here, right? But the more they try to drown us out, the louder we’re going to be.”

“As we wrap things up, I want to make one point. I’m actually very glad that these people have decided to come and be a part of this event because, for one thing, maybe they’ve been exposed to a little bit of truth. They don’t get a lot of that. So maybe they will learn some truth tonight. But also, we see the contrast between people who care about children, who care about families, and those who just tried to drown us out and who cannot engage in conversation. We see the contrast there, which is very important,” Walsh began his conclusion.

“But here’s the other thing. The reason they’re acting this way is because they are losing, and they know it. They’re losing. You guys are losing because we’re going to pass this bill, and it’s going to be illegal in this state, that’s going to happen — no matter what they say. And they will continue to lose as long as we continue to fight all across the country. So when you go home, I want you to call your congressional representatives. I want you to go online. I want you to speak to everybody you know.”

“Walk in the truth. Speak the truth to everyone. As long as we do that, then we win,” he added.

“Remember, the thing to bring up is that this is — as I said to start — this is really and truly a battle of good versus evil. This is black and white. And it’s very clear who stands on the side of truth. And that is us. Let’s keep the fight up, everybody. Thank you, everyone, for being here. Thank you.”

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