Princeton men swimmers and divers had their season suspended for joining an Ivy Leaguer obsession with physical attributes and dimensions of women in the same sports at their schools.
Officials discovered material in the team's electronic mailings that was "vulgar and offensive as well as misogynistic and racism," according to The New York Times. Whatever it was that the men said about the women swimmers and divers, it was too shocking for a school official to divulge.
Princeton becomes the third Ivy League school to take action against a men's athletic team. In November, Columbia and Harvard suspended sports teams after allegations about similar lewd conduct.
Harvard canceled the season of its men's soccer team when officials found what was described as a widespread practice of rating the school's female players in sexually explicit terms, said the Times. Columbia suspended the wrestling team's season while officials investigated text messages that reportedly used racist, misogynistic and homophobic terms about Columbia women athletes.
Princeton spokesman John Cramer elusively confirmed the material involved the school's women swimming and diving team, said the school's student newspaper the Daily Princetonian. Cramer declined to describe the information because of privacy issues and out of respect for "members of the women's swimming and diving team."
Cramer said the women's coach addressed the issue with the team, but declined to provide details.
Princeton Athletic Director Mollie Marcoux Samaan and men's swimming coach Rob Orr told the men's team about the suspension on Thursday and said a decision on canceling the entire season will be made soon, said a Princeton news release.
"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," Samaan said.
"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. After reviewing the situation with Coach Orr, we have decided to suspend the season, and all associated team activities, effective immediately."
NJ Advance Media said the team had two remaining dual meets – Jan. 7 against Navy and Feb. 5 against Yale – before the Ivy League Championships set for Feb. 22 to 25.
Princeton President Christopher Eisgruber said he supported Samaan in suspending the team.
"I have asked the athletic department to redouble its efforts to ensure that our teams conduct themselves with the character and ethics that we expect from students representing Princeton University in athletic competition," Eisgruber told the Princetonian.
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