Coast Guard investigating alleged hazing incident involving men's cross country team
The Coast Guard is investigating members of the Coast Guard Academy's men’s varsity cross country team for a potential hazing incident that reportedly occurred during a recent practice.
The academy through a spokesman declined to provide details about what happened but said there were no reported injuries as a result of the incident.
The team, which has 25 men on its roster, is suspended until the investigation into the alleged hazing is complete. That includes the cancellation of a meet against the Merchant Marine Academy men’s varsity cross country team scheduled for Oct. 17. The women’s teams still will compete. The academy did not disclose how many members of the men's team are under investigation.
“The Coast Guard Academy Superintendent received a report of alleged hazing among a group of cadets connected with the men's varsity cross country team,” Cmdr. Dave Milne, academy spokesman, said in a statement Friday. “The Coast Guard Academy takes all reports of this nature very seriously. We are encouraged that those individuals involved in making the report to Coast Guard Academy leadership felt confident in doing so. The Coast Guard immediately commenced an investigation into the allegations.”
Milne said the investigation is still in the very early stages and the Coast Guard has few details at this point. The academy notified the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference of the incident, as required, he said.
"Pending the outcome of the investigation, the Coast Guard will take appropriate actions to hold members accountable if the allegations are substantiated," Milne said.
Commands have a range of options for responding to substantiated allegations of hazing, from counseling to initiating administrative discharge proceedings.
The Coast Guard originally canceled its fall sports season on July 17 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although teams were allowed to practice. Athletic director Dan Rose recently announced that some teams will play one-game seasons this fall against Merchant Marine, their biggest rival.
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