This is a claim which Devoe has refuted. In fact, I can think of no legitimate reason why any white person would use it, whether it is directed at a specific person or not. The team, which ranked No. AMHERST The former head coach of the Amherst College men's lacrosse team has filed a federal lawsuit claiming that school officials discriminated against him, and ultimately fired him, "on the basis of his race." . Coach Thompson led the team to its first national championship game last year and was in the midst of his 10th season with the program before his firing this week. Due to the confidential nature of this ongoing investigation through the Office of Student Affairs, The Student has refrained from publishing the names of the people involved. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); Copyright 2023 The College Fix, all rights reserved. The team has also been responsible, in previous years, of vandalizing dorms and putting undue stress on custodial and facilities staff at the Massachusetts campus. 4 Cross Road. '"; The letter also said the team was uncooperative in the investigation and no one took ownership for chanting the n-word, nor did anyone reveal who was responsible for the chant. According to Inside Lacrosse, Amherst president Biddy Martin, athletic director Don Faulstick and dean of faculty Catherine Epstein described as a "list of deeply troubling cases." In December 2018, another incident occurred at a men's lacrosse party in which a swastika was drawn on the forehead of an unconscious student. Amherst College swiftly fired then-coach Jon Thompson and hired Devoe as his replacement, with the expectation that Devoe would rebuild the program by creating a more inclusive team environment. Theyre societal, systematic, and most importantly, taught and learned over time. Milford, NH 03055. We have a rare and precious opportunity to learn from one another, build a truly supportive and engaged community, and create an environment that draws on a rich array of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences. The Amherst lacrosse coach, Jon Thompson, posted his reaction to the incident and shared the disciplinary action he would be taking. It began with a 25-15 loss at Tufts on March 7, followed by a night of commiserating at Jenkins Hall. (AP) Amherst College has placed its men's lacrosse team on probation and is firing the team's coach following complaints that players used a racial slur.. Kaminska went on to be named to the Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie team for the 2022 season and was named to the 2022 CAA All-Tournament team, his obituary and Massachusetts athletics said. Published: 8/17/2021 9:21:25 PM. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBAmherstMLax-HG-032220,ph2'); Our athletes can and must reflect the best of Amherst, holding themselves to the high standards we expect of our community in all its endeavors. Catherine EpsteinProvost and Dean of the Faculty. Ferrante, 72, of Lancaster, was arrested and charged with felony grand . var sellablestring = "GAZETTE STAFF"; Thompson finishes his Amherst career with a 125-47 record with seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The Amherst College mens lacrosse team has a recent history of controversy. Due to a racially charged incident early this month, the team was put on probation for the 2021 season and coach Jon Thompson was fired. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); School suspends entire lacrosse team over alleged racist incident involving three members, Brianna Kraemer -- University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. We write with an update about the steps the College is taking to address problems with the culture and actions of the mens lacrosse team. This we will do. Martin chastised the team for refusing to identify the players that allegedly participated in the conflict. We have reviewed the complaint filed on behalf of Mr. Rashad Devoe against Amherst College and categorically refute the allegations made about the College's decisions and motives in the matter, she said. The College Fix reached out to several staff members including director of athletics Don Faulstick, none of whom responded to requests for comment. Please join the conversation about our stories on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, MeWe, Rumble, Parler, Gab, Minds, Gettr and Telegram. A team culture that repeatedly violates standards of human decency and then protects those who have perpetuated these violations is not a culture acceptable at Amherst. I dont believe anyone will face consequences until the facts are known., The incident, it appears, risks becoming swept under the rug in light of recent events involving COVID-19 and major changes to the structure of the campus. I am committed to ensuring that we take those steps for the benefit of the entire Amherst community, Martin said. What makes these matters worse is the failure of those involved to own up to their behavior and the failure of teammates to identify who was at fault. The school said the entire 2021 season could be canceled. However, as with any group or organization on our campus, teammates are accountable to each other and, as a team, also to the larger community. Those cases include sharing photos of a teammate with a swastika drawn on his face who had passed out at a party, and GroupMe exchanges denigrating and ridiculing gender-nonconforming and trans staff.. 26 Feb Feb Those cases include sharing photos of a teammate with a swastika drawn on his face who had passed out at a party, and GroupMe exchanges denigrating and ridiculing gender-nonconforming and trans staff. The Amherst Student also reports they have "been unable to confirm the disciplinary action taken by the college. This is the second publicly-addressed hate incident within the last year that has involved mens lacrosse players. The university claims that they were forced to punish the entire team because they were not able to identify the students that used the racial slurs during the alleged incident. Three people all members of mens lacrosse chanted the n-word outside of a Black lacrosse players suite on March 7. We stand ready to help guide and support the work of transforming the mens lacrosse program and to continue the work of ensuring that all our students have full access to the intellectual, social, and co-curricular opportunities Amherst offers.. "Aidan was known for his infectious smile, being a good friend, and a tremendous athlete," the obituary reads. Beginners will learn the fundamentals of the game while . What makes these matters worse is the failure of those involved to own up to their behavior and the failure of teammates to identify who was at fault. Stay tuned for updates from The Student regarding this storys development. 1. Phone Number: 673-6248. Daily Hampshire Gazette. It is, unfortunately, only the most recent in a list of deeply troubling cases involving some team members over the years. Amherst athletes are required to follow thebehavioral standards set by the athletic departmentand the College honor code as well. A racist incident at Amherst College has led to a year-long probation for the schools nationally ranked mens lacrosse team and the firing of head coach John Thompson, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reports. Amherst College is remaining largely silent regarding questions related to the suspension of its men's lacrosse team through the 2021 season, a decision the school said was in response to. Bigotry and prejudice are not solely attached to the age groups that witnessed Jim Crow first-hand. Devoe was fired as Amherst men's lacrosse head coach in June with two years left on his deal. }. AMHERST Amherst College has placed its nationally ranked men's lacrosse program on probation for the 2021 spring season and fired head coach Jon Thompson following a racially charged. The Globe sat down with parents of athletes who claimed Devoes style was overly aggressive, verbally threatening at times, disruptive and divisive. Further, according to the Globe, Devoe allegedly made a misogynistic comment about female Amherst students. Miles Cosgrove has been fighting for his job back. Dean of Students Liz Agosto sent an email on March 9 notifying students of an altercation between two students involving the use of racist language and subsequent physical violence. The email did not provide further details of what happened. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { University of Massachusetts Amherst lacrosse player Aidan Kaminska died "unexpectedly" on May 30, according to an online obituary. As revealed by WBUR, According to the lawsuit, administrators pressured Devoe to reveal the identi[t]ies of three Black athletes who complained about a racist comment made by a lacrosse player, and when he refused, he was fired. The timing of the termination is cause for speculation because the refusal and removal happened around the same time. He was named All-County Midfielder in his junior year for lacrosse. var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London. Posted a week after the school announced the sanctions against the team, Martin said college officials had identified three areas of the school in need of systemic change, including a robust policy and set of procedures for dealing with identity-based discrimination and/or harassment, a bias-reporting protocol, which has been the focus of the Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion and, when implemented, will include features of the best available models, and the development and use of restorative practices, where they are appropriate, to deal with conflict and violations.. Amherst athletics is among the oldest and most prestigious athletic programs in the country. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. At least one member of the lacrosse team was accused of using a racial slur during a "harassing" incident that occurred in March. In their press release, the school cited a failure of the team as a whole to voluntarily identify the individuals involved, and a team wide culture that supported the alleged behavior. Masslive.com reports. Men's Lacrosse Members Involved in Racist Incident Shawna Chen Mar 11, 2020 3 min Three people all members of men's lacrosse chanted the n-word outside of a Black lacrosse player's suite on March 7. Subject: Amherst Lacrosse? According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Amherst College has placed its men's lacrosse program on probation canceling its 2020 postseason along with all formal team gatherings until November. Aidan Kaminska starred in lacrosse and football at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in Port Jefferson, NY . the team has been near the top of the D3 rankings for the past few yrs and even won a title. In a statement, the University of Massachusetts athletics department extended its condolences to Kaminska's "family, friends, teammates and coaches," as it celebrated his legacy as a lacrosse player. Amherst, MA Pratt Field at Lehrman Stadium. However, as with any group or organization on our campus, teammates are accountable to each other and, as a team, also to the larger community. Descendents of British Slave Trading Architects Offer Reparations Compensation to University. In the wake of his passing, tributes have poured in from across the athletics community, with Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade writing in a statement: We lost an amazing young man far too early in this life, and we send prayers of support and strength.. These failures have exacerbated the harm to those directly affected and to our broader community, including those alumni who experienced racism and other indignities while at Amherst. Concussions are a risk associated with any sport, physical activity or accident. MEDFORD, MA (February 24, 2023) - The Tufts University hockey team takes a four-game winning streak into its NESCAC Tournament quarterfinal game at Amherst College on Saturday evening. var sellablestring2 = "STAFF PHOTO"; International media reports that the team will be on probation through June 30, 2021, and is barred from meeting for practices or other gatherings until November 2020. var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; In the wake of this latest controversy, the team is struggling to retain both its players and status. The exact contents of that course are unclear and, if were being honest, this has ineffective diversity training written all over it, but that doesnt mean officials at Amherst are not dead serious about holding everyone involved in this incident accountable. An image was then circulated on the mens lacrosse players social media. Aidan Kaminska, who was born in Stony Brook, New York, was a sophomore majoring in communications and a midfielder on the Minutemen lacrosse team, according to an obituary. Participation in athletics at Amherst is a privilege, not a right, the letter reads. Provoked, the Black lacrosse player punched one of the teammates chanting the n-word. It is not tolerable to have a racist slur used against anyone. Some students allegedly chanted the N-word outside a black players dorm on March 7, according to the Amherst Student newspaper. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. MIDDLEPORT, N.Y. (WIVB) - State Police report that Joseph Ferrante of Sunbilt Living was arrested and charged with grand larceny and scheming to defraud. Amherst athletes are required to follow the behavioral standards set by the athletic department and the College honor code as well. tag_id.innerHTML = ''; At least one member of the lacrosse team was accused of using a racial slur during a harassing incident that occurred in March. This is not the first time that a university has punished an entire team over the actions of a few players. The day after Chen's account in The Student, Martin wrote a message to faculty, students and staff condemning the use of a racial slur, adding that she was working with lacrosse coach Jon Thompson to invoke proper disciplinary measures. Launching Media Careers. so pathetic. In short, we cannot ignore the harmful culture that exists on the mens lacrosse team, and its damage to our community.. After beating Salisbury, the Generals are rising the rankings fast. The Amherst Student reported last month that three members of the lacrosse team chanted the n-word outside of a Black lacrosse players suite at the beginning of March, after which the black player allegedly assaulted one of the white players. According to a report by the College Fix, Amherst College has suspended its men's lacrosse team through 2021 over an alleged incident that involved three players. AMHERST Amherst College has placed its nationally ranked men's lacrosse program on probation for the 2021 spring season and fired head coach Jon Thompson following a racially charged. Thompson, in his 10th year with Amherst, went 18-4 last season and lost in the NCAA Division III championship game to Cabrini. The only other win in '94 was a 7-6 triple overtime victory against Canisius High School. That may have been a reference to the firing of lacrosse coach Jon Thompson, who was dismissed by the school last month. AMHERST Amherst College has placed its nationally ranked mens lacrosse program on probation for the 2021 spring season and fired head coach Jon Thompson following a racially charged incident earlier this month. The letter also noted that members of the program were responsible in the past for vandalism in dorms and putting an undue burden on campus custodial services. The circular design of the power strip allows for the 15" to coil up inside the body of the productmaking it easy to wrap up and throw in a bag to take with you when traveling. In fact, theyre so serious that according to the Gazette, college officials fired the teams head coach of nearly 10 years, Jon Thompson, despite the fact that he led the Mammoths to its first national championship game last season, closing out the year ranked at no. According toAmherst Student, the incident occured on March 7 on the campus of the Massachusetts' college. When some members of our community demean and harass entire groups and create an unwelcoming environment with their conduct, the College has an obligation to hold them to account. Due to a racially charged incident early this month, the team was put on probation for the 2021 season and coach Jon Thompson was fired. Martins letter added that the lacrosse players have been uncooperative in the investigation into the N-word incident, with players refusing to name the individual responsible for starting the racist chant. P.O. [W]e have also concluded that a change in leadership for the lacrosse team will be necessary, the letter read. These failures have exacerbated the harm to those directly affected and to our broader community, including those alumni who experienced racism and other indignities while at Amherst. Amherst Athletics confirmed the report to US Lacrosse Magazine and included the letter sent to faculty, staff and students (below). One of those incidents was team members exchanging messages in a popular texting app, GroupMe, that were denigrating and ridiculing transgender and gender-nonconforming staff members. 2023 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Things to Know About the Fashion Trailblazer Turned Advocate Bethann Hardison. No one responded by press time. In fact, I can think of no legitimate reason why any white person would use it, whether it is directed at a specific person or not. A group of alumni who were present for the 2015 Amherst Uprising, which shed light on the difficulties faced by students of color on campus, returned for a panel in the Powerhouse on Feb. 16 to discuss the lessons they drew from the Uprising and give advice to current students. President Biddy Martin learned about the incident on March 8, she told The Student in a statement. The Massachusetts college published a letter on March 20 explaining the decision. In a letter to the community, Amherst College President Biddy Martin said that the team has a history of troubling behavior. In short, we cannot ignore the harmful culture that exists on the mens lacrosse team, and its damage to our community. In short, we cannot ignore the harmful culture that exists on the mens lacrosse team, and its damage to our community.. "Provoked, the Black lacrosse player punched one of the teammates chanting the N-word," the Student reports. We did not determine the timing of the egregious behavior that prompts our actions. University of Southern California (USC) Prospect Camp - July 12-13. Brianna Kraemer - University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Womens soccer team suspended due to blackface Halloween costume, Vulgar texts prompt wrestling teams suspension, demands for expulsion, Catholic university denies group for belief in two sexes, Black Marxist scholar who supports reparations finds out she descends from slave owner, American University will not divulge race of suspect who wrote Black people suck, Dartmouth outdoor club speakers: White supremacy, domination obstruct access to nature, Powered by the Student Free Press Association. They added that the incident was only the most recent in a list of deeply troubling cases involving some team members over the years. Dean of Students Liz Agosto wrote in a March 9 email to the student body, It is important for us to recognize and acknowledge that both the use of racial epithets on our campus and physical violence cause harm not only to the individuals involved but to the community as a whole. According to the Daily Hampshire Gazette, Amherst College has placed its mens lacrosse program on probation canceling its 2020 postseason along with all formal team gatherings until November following an incident first reported by the Amherst Student earlier this month. tag_id.innerHTML = ''; But it didnt end there. GAME DAY; Watch Live; Live Stats; Composite Schedule; Photos; Tickets; CONNECT; NCAA; Sunshine State Conference; (0% . In addition, every member of the team will be required to complete an educational course selected by Epstein with input from the chief diversity and inclusion officer and Faulstick. At Amherst we are fortunate to have a student body, a staff, and a faculty that have begun to more closely reflect the realities of the country and the world. Amherst, NH 03031. features programs for the beginner to the varsity level. The team is prohibited from engagingin formalteam gatherings prior to November 1, 2020. "University resources are available for members of the UMass community to utilize during this challenging time," it said. The black lacrosse player then punched one of the players using the vulgar language. Some students allegedly chanted the. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Amherst College coach Jon Thompson, right, watches from the sidelines during a mens lacrosse game against Bowdoin on March 9, 2019. The incident that occurred nearly two weeks ago involved the use by some members of the lacrosse team of racist, harassing speechin the form of the n-word. The use of this slur carries the historical weight of centuries-long violence and hatred toward black Americans. We're ignoring the very incident that caused Amherst lacrosse's current penalties. It is important that everyone understands the symptoms, risks, and management of a suspected brain injury. 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