Boston College has suspended the boys’s and ladies’s swimming and diving groups whereas it investigates experiences of hazing, allegations strongly disputed by athletes who’ve employed attorneys and demanded retractions of the accusations.
An preliminary assertion from the college’s athletic division Wednesday mentioned the state of affairs shall be dealt with by means of an investigation by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Allegations of hazing for each college groups had been first revealed final week in The Heights, Boston College’s student-run newspaper. The report cited an administration letter alleging that freshmen being advised to “binge drink and consume their own vomit.”
On Thursday, the faculty posted on its web site a clarified assertion that “Boston College Athletics has suspended the activities of the Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving teams following credible reports of hazing.”
The report within the Heights spurred a response from Nesenoff & Miltenberg LLP attorneys Andrew Miltenberg and Tara Davis.
Both attorneys, in a letter Thursday to the college, mentioned they symbolize practically 30 members of the groups and referred to as on the varsity to elevate the indefinite suspension.
The attorneys criticized the varsity’s conclusion that hazing had occurred previous to a full investigation.
“This declaration is demonstrably false as the College has yet to complete any investigation into allegations of hazing by the Swimming and Diving team, let alone made any determinations regarding responsibility,” the attorneys wrote.
The college, in its assertion mentioned “the matter will be investigated by the Office of the Dean of Students and adjudicated fairly and impartially through the student conduct process. Once the investigation and adjudication process is complete, Athletics will reassess the status of the teams.”
Miltenberg and Davis mentioned the state of affairs “has been grossly mishandled by the Athletics Department” and expressed issues with the student-athletes which will haven’t had something to do with the alleged hazing.
“The only harm being caused here is to the student athletes, many of whom may ultimately be found to have had no involvement whatsoever in any of the allegations being pursued, who are now facing tarnished reputations, public humiliation and ridicule, and harm to their social, physical, mental, and academic well-being,” the letter to the college mentioned.
Boston College didn’t instantly return requests for additional remark Sunday. Miltenberg, responding to Herald inquiries, reiterated his criticism of the varsity.
“We are exceptionally surprised at how irresponsible Boston College has been, vilifying an entire group of student athletes without having conducted interviews or completed any actual investigation,” he mentioned through e mail.
