'Choreographed sexual assaults': Former students accuse HS drama teacher of forcing them to simulate sex, engage in open-mouthed kissing 'for her own perverse ends'

Former students of a high school in Austin, Texas — as part of a lawsuit filed in state district court last week — have accused a longtime drama teacher of forcing them to simulate sex and engage in open-mouthed kissing when they attended Bowie High School, KVUE-TV reported.

The suit accuses Diane "Betsy" Cornwell of "abusing her power over the plaintiffs for her own perverse ends," the station said.

Three former students in the suit claim the intimacy sessions "were nothing more than choreographed sexual assaults," KVUE said, citing the lawsuit.

More from the station:

Walden Hagelman, Andie Haddad and Dana Havlin are also part of a federal lawsuit against the Austin Independent School District. They claim the district created an unsafe environment by not disciplining or removing Cornwell from her position.

A total of nine Bowie High School alumni are part of that lawsuit after a new group of four joined on Jan. 13. Cornwell was dropped from the federal suit.

The state suit claims that under Cornwell's direction, a male student groped Hagelman above and beneath her clothing during a romance rehearsal held behind locked doors, KVUE reported, adding that Hagelman attended Bowie from 2010 to 2014.

In another romance rehearsal, the lawsuit described Cornwell directing Havlin and a male student to simulate sex with open-mouthed kissing, the station said, adding that Havlin attended Bowie from 2011 to 2015.

As for Haddad, the suit said Cornwell instructed her and her male scene partner to roll around on the floor and make out, during which Haddad's partner groped her, KVUE said. Haddad attended Bowie from 2009 to 2013, the station added.

Some of the former students said Cornwell was “aroused” during rehearsals and once yelled “more, more, more!” as students were lying on the floor and kissing, the lawsuit states, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Cornwell told KVUE she had not yet been served with this lawsuit.

Anything else?

Cornwell was placed on paid administrative leave last fall following the first lawsuit, after which the district began investigating, the Austin American-Statesman reported in October.

Here's a video report on related accusations:

New group of Bowie High School alumni joins federal lawsuit against Austin ISD | KVUEyoutu.be

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