The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Sailing team’s status under review for hazing allegation

The University of Vermont suspended the sailing team’s status as a club following a potential hazing incident within the team.The incident is currently under investigation after the University became aware after a student was detoxed, Pat Brown, the director of student life, said. Suspension arose after Oct. 21, when UVM learned of “some behaviors that were a concern for the University that involved alcohol and a new member,” Pat Brown said.According to the University Hazing Policy, hazing is an action which has “the effect of humiliating, intimidating or demeaning the student or endangering the mental or physical health of a student.” As a result of the ongoing investigation, the sailing team is suspended from any activities that involve the team as a group. “They can do nothing,” Pat Brown said. They are not allowed to group together, even informally, he said.Attending fall nationals was next on the agenda for the sailing team but “we had to withdraw from it, which hurt the team,” head coach Justin Assad said. “[This is] not the first time this has happened with a student organization,” Brown said. “If information comes to us that has a level of credibility to us we have to send the information over to police services.”The UVM Police could not comment on the situation, and said that they could not even confirm if there was currently an investigation going on regarding the sailing team. “They are sad,” Assad said. “[The suspension] is sad for them.” “This is what they love. A game they love and they are not able to play,” he said.As of now, the team is waiting to hear about the results of the investigation. Brown said that the suspension could be lifted after the completion of the investigation.”They would continue to be suspended until the judicial hearing,” Brown said.Once the investigation is over, the Center for Student Ethics and Standards (CSES) will get the results from the UVM police and review the information to look for any potential policy violations, Kim Martin-Anderson, student and academic services manager at the CSES, said. “When that information is reviewed and there are alleged policy violations, we send a notice of charge,” Martin-Anderson said.The CSES takes into account the student’s testimony, accounts from witnesses and any other reports that have been made. Afterwards, they make a decision of responsibility, Martin-Anderson said. “[We will] reflect from the mistakes we’ve made and learn from them and respectively give back to the school appropriately,” Assad said.

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Sailing team’s status under review for hazing allegation