Ok Joel I am here, I was Staff from 3/77 - 1/78 then I became a Ass. Director 1/78 - 11/78. Resigned/Fired all at the same time.
Did I participate in abuse of course I did first as a resident examples I fought for the house, I screamed at other residents, I restrained other residents with other residents and without, laughed at people shot down, talked shit about other residents with other residents. My biggest sin I feel guilty about as a resident is I ran away from everyone (through driving for the house) did not share the horror or try to help folks who were really being outrageously victimized. I remember M.D. (I will not share her real name) coming to me to talk about her humiliating experience in a group where she was made fun of because of her sexual issues. Now I was in a Mental Diagnostic Center with her and she was very annoying with her sexual issues. I will not go into that. But my point is she tried to talk with me and I blew her off. I did that a lot. M.D. is no longer with us she committed suicide and I know at least some of it stemmed from her incarceration at Elan.
As staff and Ass. Director the abuse continued with screaming at people, using screaming as a intimidation, making people scrubs floors for hours on end, putting folks into the corner for days on end. I could not put people into the ring or allow residents to spank people but I witnessed other Directors do it and I was there supporting it.
I remember one time I was Ass. Director at E-7 and Marty called and said ," Get ready were going to E-6 because the house is going "TIGHT" and get ready to get physical. Now my first impulse was I got all fired up. I drove with Joe and the finance manager (don't ask me why he was going) well we got there and shit everybody was there. Marty Kruglick, Peter McCann, Rick Rosenhaus, Larry Smaller, Alan Frey, Joe Ricci, Vincent Smith, George Washington and myself. Just before we went in Joe and Marty got us together and said were going into this house to kick ass be ready. If anyone gives you any shit knock'em out. This is the gods honest truth and if anybody has witnessed a "COWBOY ASSWHIPING" at Elan you know what I mean. We weren't in there 2 seconds and this one dude saw us coming and he threw a plate at Vincent Smith, now if anybody knew Vincent why in the hell you would want to throw it at him I don't know. Well Vincent literally knocked him out. Well that got everyones attention because the guy was laying there unconscious. Within 3 seconds are little horse and pony show was over and this guy was being brought around with smelling salts. Joe the chicken shit left shortly after. Anyway this is what I involved myself in. I personally never restrained anyone as Staff/Director I had residents do it on more then a dozen or so times. Actually Joe in most regards was against staff putting their hands on residents for obvious reasons to protect his ass.
I was a active drunk and in the end maybe last 2 months drug user while I was working there. Not very responsible leader.
As my memory comes back I will post more.
Danny