Boston College has suspended the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams while it investigates reports of hazing, allegations strongly disputed by athletes who have hired attorneys and demanded retractions of the accusations.
An initial statement from the university’s athletic department Wednesday said the situation will be handled through an investigation by the Office of the Dean of Students.
Allegations of hazing for both university teams were first published last week in The Heights, Boston College’s student-run newspaper. The report cited an administration letter alleging that freshmen being told to “binge drink and consume their own vomit.”
On Thursday, the college posted on its website a clarified statement 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 in the Heights spurred a response from Nesenoff & Miltenberg LLP attorneys Andrew Miltenberg and Tara Davis.
Both attorneys, in a letter Thursday to the university, said they represent nearly 30 members of the teams and called on the school to lift the indefinite suspension.
The lawyers criticized the school’s conclusion that hazing had occurred prior 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 school, in its statement said “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 said the situation “has been grossly mishandled by the Athletics Department” and expressed concerns with the student-athletes that may have not had anything 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 university said.
Boston College did not immediately return requests for further comment Sunday. Miltenberg, responding to Herald inquiries, reiterated his criticism of the school.
“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 said via email.
