Millersville reminding athletes: behave
College punishes lacrosse team for hazing
By CINDY STAUFFER
Updated Oct 03, 2008 11:06

Three women's lacrosse team players have been suspended at Millersville University for violating hazing policies, the university announced Thursday.

Earlier this fall, nine MU football players were suspended and then reinstated after allegations they were involved in a sexual assault at an off-campus party.

In the wake of these two recent incidents, Millersville officials decided they need to do more to educate student athletes and have consistent policies about their conduct.

A coaches group now is reviewing team rules and regulations.

Also, the university is holding a special training and brainstorming session this fall for MU's 500 to 600 student athletes.

"We're trying to be proactive with this," said Roger Bruszewski, vice president of finance and administration, who oversees the athletic department.

The three lacrosse players were suspended after an investigation sparked by photos of a team party that surfaced on a national anti-hazing Web site.

The photos showed athletes with what look like beer cans duct-taped to their hands and athletes apparently drinking shots. Some of the players wore men's underwear on their heads or had their hair done up in tampon "curlers."

A judicial review showed three of the athletes violated university hazing policies, according to a statement issued by the university Thursday afternoon.

The three were suspended for two weeks and required to develop an anti-hazing program that they must present to fellow student athletes.

Also, the entire team will not be able to play the few fall games played in its spring sport or take a spring break lacrosse trip. The entire team also is required to do community service, the statement said.

The football players were suspended after an alleged assault occurred at a Labor Day weekend party. Police dropped their investigation when the alleged victim stopped cooperating with investigators and indicated she would not testify against the players.

After the two incidents, MU officials assembled a group of five coaches, asking them to review coaches' rules, to ensure they were consistent for every sport.

"Some coaches have rules that other coaches don't have," Bruszewski said. "Some have strict rules about class attendance. Others just say, 'You should attend class.'"

In addition to class attendance, the rules govern issues such as school equipment, behavior while traveling with the team and campus behavior, he said.

MU wants to ensure all teams have the same, clearly stated expectations for athletes, he said.

The other program will be held sometime this fall, through the NCAA CHAMPS/Life Skills Program, through which the university offers educational programs for athletes.

Student mediators will help oversee the session with athletes from the university's 21 teams.

Those team members will meet in smaller groups, where they will be asked to think about what it means to be a student athlete and what responsibilities they have to their team, the university, MU alumni and the community.

"The meeting is to raise awareness of student athletes," Bruszewski said.

Afterward, the university may develop some type of policy or slogan for athletes, depending on what emerges from the sessions.

CONTACT US: cstauffer@LNPnews.com or 481-6024

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