Lehigh University Suspends Males’s Swim Group-Associated Actions Amidst Hazing Violations, Pending Investigations

Lehigh University has suspended all team-related actions for its males’s swim workforce as of September 15 after studying of hazing in this system, a Lehigh spokesperson informed SwimSwam.

The allegations have halted all males’s swim workforce actions whereas an investigation is underway.

“Acts of hazing are antithetical to the values of our community. Lehigh University is committed to working across campus to foster a culture that supports an inclusive, safe, and healthy community for student-athletes, as well as the whole Lehigh community,” the spokesperson stated in a message to SwimSwam.

This isn’t the primary time this system has confronted hazing-related points; in 2020, Lehigh’s swimming and diving workforce was placed on probation after an allegation that workforce members had been informed to take part in punishment swims at 3:00 AM.

As a consequence, the workforce obtained a disciplinary warning and was required to attend an academic program on hazing.

Lehigh’s anti-hazing policy prohibits any type of hazing, which can end in felony expenses beneath federal regulation, together with the Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law, which took impact in October 2018 and created a graded penalty system based mostly on the severity of the hazing.

Lehigh University is at first an academic establishment, dedicated to growing the longer term leaders of our altering international society. As an academic establishment, the well being and security of our college students and different group members is paramount. Lehigh University doesn’t tolerate hazing. Any particular person or group to which this Anti-Hazing Policy applies discovered liable for hazing, occurring on or off campus, is topic to disciplinary motion by Lehigh University and may additionally face felony expenses beneath relevant regulation, together with The Timothy J. Piazza Antihazing Law.

The Lehigh pupil affairs web site has a page where anyone can report hazing issues.

We have seen a number of applications face disciplinary motion previously for hazing-related points, together with Western Kentucky University in 2015, which initially suspended this system for 5 years, earlier than later pulling all funding from this system in 2018, after a Title IX investigation confirmed that underage swimmers inside the program had been being compelled to drink alcohol.

Last season, the Lehigh males completed sixth out of 10 groups on the Patriot League Championships with 560 factors, forward of applications reminiscent of Holy Cross, Lafayette, Colgate and American.

SwimSwam will launch updates as quickly as extra info is accessible.