Princeton University in Princeton, N.J., has suspended its men's swimming and diving team's season after a complaint about offensive content posted online.
The university says the complaint made officials aware of several materials, including content on the university-sponsored men’s swimming and diving team listserv, that was" vulgar and offensive, as well as misogynistic and racist."
"We make clear to all of our student-athletes that they represent Princeton University at all times, on and off the playing surface and in and out of season, and we expect appropriate, respectful conduct from them at all times," says Mollie Marcoux Samaan, Princeton's director of athletics. "The behavior that we have learned about is simply unacceptable. It is antithetical to the values of our athletic program and of the University, and will not be tolerated...We have decided to suspend the season, and all associated team activities, effective immediately.
"In the coming days we will make a determination about the status of the team’s remaining schedule and we also will work collaboratively to determine additional actions aimed at education and positive culture building for the team."
The team has two remaining meets scheduled (against Navy on Jan. 7 and Harvard and Yale on Feb. 5), along with the Ivy League Championships Feb. 22 to 25.
“The athletics department and the University are committed to providing an inclusive environment free from harassment and intimidation and characterized by mutual respect and concern for the well-being of others,” Samaan says. “In recent years we have worked closely with Princeton’s SHARE office (Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising Resources and Education) to provide educational and training programs for our students and our staff."
