The Washington University in St. Louis men’s soccer team has been suspended while school officials investigate claims made by the women’s soccer team of “degrading and sexually explicit comments” made about its members by the (men’s) teams, as well as other “inappropriate behavior.”
Student Life reports the allegations were brought by the school and the women’s team coaches. They include “an online document created by members of the 2015 team that included ‘degrading and sexually explicit comments’” about women’s team members in addition to conduct “that perpetuates a culture of disrespect toward women.””
From the school’s statement, included in the article:
The women’s soccer team first reported the allegations to university administrators and the teams’ coaches on Wednesday evening, and the university immediately launched a full investigation, which is ongoing. While the investigation is underway, the university has informed the men’s soccer team that, effective immediately and until further notice, it will be prohibited from participating in team activities of any nature. This is merely a preliminary action; subsequent actions may be taken, depending on the outcome of the investigation.
“We are saddened and deeply troubled by these allegations and are taking them very seriously,” said Lori S. White, vice chancellor for student affairs “Let me be clear: There is absolutely no place at Washington University for sexism, discrimination or harassment of any kind. This alleged behavior flies in the face of the university’s core values of community support, diversity and inclusion, and we are firmly committed to conducting a timely and thorough investigation to address this matter.”
The allegations leveled by the women’s team refer to degrading and sexually explicit comments being written about them in 2015 by members of the men’s team in an online document, and other inappropriate behavior that perpetuates a culture of disrespect toward women.
Early last month The College Fix reported on action taken by Harvard against its men’s soccer team for comparable “inappropriate behavior”; in addition, the school’s current men’s cross country team was put on athletic probation for “violations” made by past team members. The men’s XC team at Amherst College recently was suspended, too.
Elsewhere in the Ivy League, Columbia University’s wrestling team and Princeton’s swim team have suffered similar fates.
Read the full Student Life article.
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