“Try to avoid taking opera”, “Everyone knows, they just dont say it”, “I don’t know what it is, but I get a weird feeling around him.” If you went to the Academy of American Studies, you’ve probably heard some variations of these sayings. They weren’t in the student handbook; they were passed down from upperclassmen to freshman, students and parents, mostly from girls, because we all knew.
When my principal, William Bassel was arrested on sexual abuse charges after allegedly groping two teacher on campus it wasn’t necessarily a bombshell. This news may have shocked reporters, and New Yorkers but the students werent surprised. We were relieved. Relieved that somebody finally spoke out against him. Relieved that what we’ve been sensing, dodging, and talking about for years was finally being taken seriously. Relieved that we don’t have to live in fear.
According to his court case on May 27th, William Bassell was arrested and charged with five counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of forcible touching of intimate parts. Two former employees of the Academy of American Studies filed complaints detailing unsettling and traumatizing encounters with him.Sveral of these alleged incidents occurred right here at our school a place where young people should feel safe, seen, and respected. It is especially troubling because the principal sets the tone for the entire community.
The New York Post reports that Bassell allegedly forced a former female employee to leave the school parking lot and “grazed his hand against her neck and her breast, over her clothes, without her consent.”. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims who brvely came forward, and I am deeply grateful for their courage in speaking out.
This is not the first time Bassell has been accused of inappropriate behavior on campus, and many students feel a sense of relief knowing he is now behind bars and facing the consequences of his actions if he is proven guilty.
As students, we often feel powerless to speak out about the serious flaws within our school. Because of this, many incidents involving former Principal William Bassell and students were never properly reported or addressed. In 2020, an anonymous Instagram account was created to raise awareness about sexual harassment at the Academy of American Studies. This account identified Bassell as one of the primary perpetrators, alongside several other faculty members who continue to work at the school.
The account features student testimonies describing encounters with staff members such as Ms. Ghafary, Mr. Bassell, Mr. Gil, and others. While I will not name all individuals who faced allegations, as many remain on faculty, I strongly encourage everyone to review the posts on @aas_takes_a_stand to understand the gravity of these allegations.
One particular post from June 4, 2020, states: “On numerous occasions, he (referring to Bassell) has touched my arms, shoulders, or back when speak to me and other female students. I have also witnessed him stare at students’ bodies and make inappropriate comments about their clothing or exposed body parts.” Despite these repeated allegations, little to no action was taken while Bassell remained in his position. Many students were aware of how uncomfortable his behavior made them feel, and several teachers had heard similar reporets yet the Department of Education failed to intervene.
This is not the first time Bassell has been subject to investigation. An email sent on June 8, 2020, titled “Student Government’s Letter Regarding Recent Allegations Made Against Faculty,” brought further attention to these issues. With faculty largely silent, students felt compelled to advocate for themselvesThe email detailed that Bassell and other staff members were under investigation by District 13 Senator Jessica Ramos and District 26 Councilmember Jimmy Van Bramer, who called for the removal of repeatedly accused personel. However, no significant action followed, and many of those named in these allegations continue to teach at the school today.
To gain an authentic perspective of Bassels actions, while he was under investigation in 2020 I interviewed a former Academy of American Studies Alumni, She perfers to remain stay anonymous for privacy reasons and will be referred to by the initials of A.B
When asked if A.B’s perspective on the matter, since she has been at this school much longer I have, she responded too “hey, so (as an alum) im happy to see bassell facing serious charges bc he’s been a creep for many years and it’s time that many girls and women get justice for the way they were treated/impacted by him. back when academy had two buildings, bassell used to stop girls (did this to many but especially those with larger chests) at the south building entrance to “control traffic coming in and out of the building” but it was really an excuse to graze their boobs “accidentally”. there was fully a security guard at the south building who could’ve done this in a less touchy way. i honestly don’t remember if i was part of those girls that was touched bc it’s all blurred together at this point. i was a part of SLT (Student Leadership Team) and he used to stare at my chest a lot during those meetings. i don’t even have a lot going on in the chest area so he really did not discriminate”
Even though when A.B was a student, and there was a lot of attention surrounding violations towards students from the faculty students received little to no support from Academy of American Studies
When asked, “Did the school ever offer you or any students any service to help you guys during that time, such as counseling, informative meetings or any emails addressing it”
A.B stated “there was no communication or services offered from AAS(refering to academy of american studies.) or DOE regarding the investigatio.n”
We saw this coming for years. And we were told to stay quiet. Several teachers told us not to speak about it because there is no real evidence, and so we wouldn’t get in trouble. The school offered no help, no support until the press reported about this matter. We were silenced. But now, the truth is louder than ever.
It’s important to acknowledge that William Bassell has not been found guilty, and the charges against him remain allegations. He is pleading innocent, and I do not intend to accuse, defame, or speak negatively. I am simply sharing my perspective as a student, which I express under my First Amendment right to free speech.
Written by Caroline Zera
