Boston College suspends swimming and diving program due to harassment

CNN
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Boston College has suspended men’s and women’s swimming and diving program Indefinitely for harassment, school Announce Wednesday.

According to the schoolUniversity officials determined that harassment had occurred within the program and “consistent with university policy, the matter will be investigated by the Office of the Dean of Students and adjudicated fairly and impartially through the student conduct process.”

The Boston College Eagles were scheduled to open the season on October 7 against George Washington University.

“The university does not and will not tolerate harassment in any form. During the period of suspension, all swimming and diving student-athletes will continue to have access to the academic and medical resources provided to all student-athletes at Boston College,” the school added.

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) He specifies Harassment is “any act committed against a person who joins, becomes a member, or maintains membership in any organization that is offensive, intimidating, degrading, or endangers the person’s health or safety.”

“Hazing involves active or passive participation in such acts and occurs regardless of the desire to participate in the activities. Risk-taking creates an environment/climate in which dignity and respect are absent.

The men’s and women’s teams finished last out of 12 teams in the 2023 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

The suspension comes amid a crackdown across college sports on hazing.

In July, Northwestern University The football program’s head coach, Pat Fitzgerald, was fired after allegations of harassment surfaced, for which the university is facing several lawsuits.

An independent investigation conducted by Northwestern University before Fitzgerald’s firing found evidence of ongoing harassment that included “forced sharing, nudity, and sexual acts of a degrading nature,” university President Michael Schale said in a July letter.

Although the investigation found “no credible evidence” that Fitzgerald knew about the alleged harassment, the head coach is ultimately responsible for the team’s culture, Schell said. Fitzgerald denied any knowledge of harassment on the show.

In August N.W Announce Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch will lead an independent review of the athletics department’s culture and accountability mechanisms in the wake of the disturbing lawsuits.