Lauren Paul
Former Franklin & Marshall College women's lacrosse coach Lauren Paul wants her job back and her name cleared.
Paul, who was fired April 17 after the school's investigation of a March 2011 hazing incident involving the women's lacrosse team, spoke in depth Monday for the first time of the events leading to her termination.
Paul, who is considering legal action against F&M, said on Feb. 15 of this year she was made aware of an anonymous call to the Lancaster police department, the day before, about an alleged hazing incident.
Two days later the school traced the call and told Paul who made the complaint. It turned out to be a player that was cut from the team on Feb. 9. The following week, Paul said, she was informed of the details of the call.
"It wasn't until about April 6 that the people who had made the initial complaint also sent a letter, which I have no idea the details of the letter, to the school," Paul explained. "On April 10, I was made aware that the school was moving forward with an investigation and that they were investigating the team. At no point was I made aware that they were investigating me. I didn't even think that was any part of it."
F&M Vice President of Communications Cass Cliatt said the investigation, which also led to the leave of absence of assistant coaches Caitlin Powderly and Lidia Sanza (who played for Paul in 2009-10) and the suspension of 11 upperclassmen, had three phases.
The first investigation, Cliatt said, was of the student-athlete code of conduct. Concurrent with that, the school investigated the student code of conduct and "college's policy, procedures and process on when we receive an allegation of hazing and our response," said Cliatt.
Cliatt said that the college's decision wasn't based on anonymous information or information from one or two students.
"We made our decision based on a very thorough and complete investigation that included interviews with virtually every member of the women's lacrosse team," Cliatt explained. "There was corroborating evidence in those interviews."
For legal reasons Cliatt would not disclose specifics of the hazing or the investigation.
Paul and Cliatt agree that neither Paul nor her assistants had any knowledge of, planning role or other involvement in the hazing incident but "the college felt a change was needed to help the team and the college move forward," according to Cliatt.
"They called me in 30 minutes before they told the girls about the actions they were taking against the team and told me they were terminating my employment," Paul recalled.
"The reason they stated was that they did not trust me to lead moving forward. When I asked why, they said that was all they were willing to say."
An online petition was created after Paul's firing, seeking that she be reinstated. As of Monday 960 people had signed the petition though it may not carry any weight, according Cliatt.
"The administration of the college, and any institution of higher education, makes measured decisions independent of various external mechanisms that may be out there," Cliatt said.
"At this current time the college's decision stands."
Paul, a two-time All-American from 2000-03 at F&M before becoming its head coach in 2009, wants to stay at a place she's grown to love despite the current situation.
"Ms. Paul wants her job back," Paul's attorney John A. Gallagher said. "She feels she was terminated wrongfully and she wants to return to a place that she's called home for the past many years."
READ: Press release from John A. Gallagher, lawyer for F&M former lacrosse coaches Lauren Paul, Lidia Sanza and Caitlin Powderly (PDF)