Wednesday, January 10

Tough crowd.

January 10, 2007 8:43 p.m. EST
Josephine Roque - All Headline News Staff Writer

San Francisco, CA (AHN) - The renowned, all-male acappella singing group from Yale, the Baker's Dozen, were pummeled outside a New Year's Eve party after singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The alleged attackers include graduates from Sacred Heart Cathedral, one of San Francisco's best-known private schools. The attack occurred outside the home of two known San Francisco police officers: former mayoral bodyguard Reno Rapagnani, and his wife, Leanna Dawydiak.

One of the victim's fathers, Sharyar Aziz, whose son's jaw was broken in two places, has employed the services of law firm Gonzalez and Leigh to make sure "the individuals behind this heinous assault (are) apprehended." Aziz is a prominent New York banker and has called the mayor's office and police chief to complain.

Rapagnani narrates that his 19-year-old daughter was hosting a New Year's Eve party at their family home for the Baker's Dozen, who were in the area for their West Coast tour. The acapella group came in late to the party donning preppy sport jackets and ties, and launched into singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."

A number of uninvited guests began mocking them, and allegedly used the words "faggot" and "homo" along with punches. Witnesses claim that one of the uninvited guests - apparently the son of a prominent Pacific Heights family - used his cell phone and said, "I'm 20 deep. My boys are coming."

Rapagnani and others confirm that the Yale students started on their way home as the house was ordered to be cleared and barely reached the corner when they were blocked by a van of young men.

"They were surrounded, then tripped -- and when they were on the ground, they were kicked," Rapagnani said.

Police reports detail that cops arrived about 12:40 a.m. to stop 20 people fighting in the street. Sharyar Aziz Jr. had to undergo reconstructive surgery for a broken jaw that will remain wired for eight weeks. Another fellow Yale student sought treatment for a concussion, while a third for a swollen ankle and other abrasions.

Yale Dean Peter Salovey told the school paper that he was "shocked and appalled" by the incident.
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I wonder if there was something wrong with "their rendition of the Star Spangled Banner", or if there was just too much liquor and hatred at play that night, and it was easy pickin's:

NEW YORK (AFP) - Members of a close-harmony group from Yale University are recovering after being ambushed and beaten up while on tour in California, according to local reports.

Members of the a cappella Baker's Dozen were performing at a party in San Francisco at the new year when their rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner" apparently sparked taunts and threats from fellow partygoers.

As the group left the house, they were attacked by dozens of assailants, suffering scrapes, black eyes and concussions, said Connecticut's News Channel 8.

"Besides any bruising or scrapes to the face, the main injury I suffered was I broke my jaw in two places," one of the singers, 18-year-old Sharyar Aziz, was quoted as saying.