2008 Woodie Awards
Men's lacrosse sanctioned for hazing
Dan McCallion
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
Questions about whether the men's lacrosse team went beyond acceptable initiation practices landed the Drew University's men's lacrosse team in quite a bit of administrative hot water recently.
The men's lacrosse team traveled to San Diego, Calif. over spring break for games against Ithaca and Whittier colleges. Prior to departing, the team apparently held a party at which freshman members were judged on the results of a week's worth of team-approved activities, which, according to one team member speaking anonymously, were "innocent and all good."
Based on the perceived success of each player, they were either assigned or spared drinks. Quoted anonymously, one team member disclosed that players had to, in the course of the evening, drink a large amount of milk followed by warm beers, which led to vomiting, particularly by members who happened to be lactose-intolerant.
On Friday, March 7, a player's parents became upset enough when learning of these actions that they placed a phone call to Coach Tom Leanos, who immediately met with Athletic Director Connie Zotos, and later Dean of Campus Life and Student Affairs Dawn Williams. After contacting Associate Dean of Campus Life and Student Affairs Frank Merckx, a second meeting was held at approximately 4pm that afternoon, which included all of the members of the team and the coaching staff, as well as the administrators. According to Merckx, "The meeting's purpose was to attain a clearer view of the individuals responsible, as well as to form a plan as to how to move forward."
The administration is prohibited from releasing names of individuals under scrutiny, but Merckx disclosed that the result of the meetings including and following the one on the afternoon of March 7 was that five members of the team faced a student conduct board made up of three peers and two faculty members. The board generally provides a recommendation to the administration as to potential disciplinary action. "A student conduct board is usually called into play in one of two situations," Merckx stated. "Either the facts of the case are unclear, or the dean specifically requests the hearing. The latter was the case here."
The men's lacrosse team traveled to San Diego, Calif. over spring break for games against Ithaca and Whittier colleges. Prior to departing, the team apparently held a party at which freshman members were judged on the results of a week's worth of team-approved activities, which, according to one team member speaking anonymously, were "innocent and all good."
Based on the perceived success of each player, they were either assigned or spared drinks. Quoted anonymously, one team member disclosed that players had to, in the course of the evening, drink a large amount of milk followed by warm beers, which led to vomiting, particularly by members who happened to be lactose-intolerant.
On Friday, March 7, a player's parents became upset enough when learning of these actions that they placed a phone call to Coach Tom Leanos, who immediately met with Athletic Director Connie Zotos, and later Dean of Campus Life and Student Affairs Dawn Williams. After contacting Associate Dean of Campus Life and Student Affairs Frank Merckx, a second meeting was held at approximately 4pm that afternoon, which included all of the members of the team and the coaching staff, as well as the administrators. According to Merckx, "The meeting's purpose was to attain a clearer view of the individuals responsible, as well as to form a plan as to how to move forward."
The administration is prohibited from releasing names of individuals under scrutiny, but Merckx disclosed that the result of the meetings including and following the one on the afternoon of March 7 was that five members of the team faced a student conduct board made up of three peers and two faculty members. The board generally provides a recommendation to the administration as to potential disciplinary action. "A student conduct board is usually called into play in one of two situations," Merckx stated. "Either the facts of the case are unclear, or the dean specifically requests the hearing. The latter was the case here."
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