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Washington University men’s soccer team suspended over comments toward women – Chicago Tribune
Washington University in St. Louis has suspended its men’s soccer team indefinitely while it investigates allegations that the 2015 team kept an online document of “degrading and sexually explicit comments” toward women.
The university made the announcement late Friday night, two days after members of the school’s women’s soccer team raised concerns over the alleged inappropriate behavior.
“We are saddened and deeply troubled by these allegations and are taking them very seriously,” Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori S. White said in a statement. “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.”
Until the matter is resolved, the men’s soccer team is “prohibited from participating in team activities of any nature,” according to a university statement, which portends that other disciplinary action could follow depending on the outcome of the investigation.
“We must respect the integrity of the investigative process and carefully review the findings as they become available; however, these allegations suggest an unacceptable culture within our men’s soccer program,” Provost Holden Thorp said in a statement. “We have no choice at this point but to put a halt to all team activities — indefinitely — while we conclude the investigation and determine the most appropriate next steps.”
The suspension of the men’s soccer team at Washington University follows several other men’s teams around the country that have seen their seasons cut short for similar reasons.
On Thursday, Princeton suspended its men’s swimming and diving team over “misogynistic and racist” comments circulating about the women’s team on an electronic mailing list.
Earlier in the week, Amherst suspended its men’s cross-country team after members described the members of the female team as “meatslab” and a “walking STD” in team-wide email chains.
These two incidents follow two from last month that resulted in the suspension of Columbia University‘s wrestling team and Harvard’s men’s soccer team. In both instances, team members were accused of writing sexually explicit remarks about women.