The Princeton University men’s swimming and diving team has been suspended for sending vulgar and offensive emails, according to a statement released by the university.
Earlier this week, the university received content from the university-sponsored men’s swimming and diving team listserv that was “vulgar and offensive, as well as misogynistic and racist in nature,” the statement said.
Director of Athletics Mollie Marcoux Samaan said their behavior was simply unacceptable.
“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 team has been suspended by Samaan and head coach Rob Orr for the foreseeable future, pending a decision about the remainder of their schedule. The team is currently scheduled for two remaining meets—against Navy on Jan. 7 and Harvard and Yale on Feb. 5—along with the Ivy League Championships in late February.
“In the coming days we will make a determination about the status of the team’s remaining schedule, and we also will work collaboratively to determine additional actions aimed at education and positive culture building for the team,” Samaan said.
Samaan added that the athletic department will continue to work closely with Princeton’s SHARE office—Sexual Harassment/Assault Advising Resources and Education—to provide educational and training programs for both students and staff.
Princeton University joins a growing number of colleges to suspend teams for what they deemed inappropriate behavior. Last month, Harvard suspended their men’s soccer team for creating a “scouting report” ranking women on their physical appearance. Amherst College also recently suspended their men’s cross country team for sending sexually explicit messages.
