The Amherst Student, however, originally reported the players had "chanted" the n-word and described the incident as "racist." #IntegrateAmherst Amherst suspended the 50-member team in March. According to its report, members of the mens lacrosse team chanted the n-word at a black lacrosse player, who then punched one of his teammates who was using the term. We publish narratives intentionally and specifically to enlighten and transform the world. GAME DAY; Watch Live; Live Stats; Composite Schedule; Photos; Tickets; CONNECT; NCAA; Sunshine State Conference; (0% . '"; 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. 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. "Aidan had numerous friends and was an inspiration to many. Participation in athletics at Amherst is a privilege, not a right, the letter reads. The incident that inspired the suspension allegedly involved the use by some members of the lacrosse team of racist, harassing speech. That speech reportedly included the racial slur nigger.. According to Amherst Student, the incident occured on March 7 on the campus of the Massachusetts' college. Olivia Gieger 21 and Henry Newton 21 contributed reporting to this article. Amherst athletics is among the oldest and most prestigious athletic programs in the country, the letter concluded. Its important for us to recognize and acknowledge that both the use of racial epithets on our campus and physical violence causes harm not only to the individuals involved but to the community as a whole, Dean of Students Liz Agosto wrote in an email blast to students March 9. At this time, The Student has been unable to confirm the disciplinary action taken. In short, we cannot ignore the harmful culture that exists on the mens lacrosse team, and its damage to our community.. It is, unfortunately, only the most recent in a list of deeply troubling cases involving some team members over the years. From the beginning, several Amherst parents considered Devoes coaching methods to be unacceptable. "Aidan was known for his infectious smile, being a good friend, and a tremendous athlete," the obituary reads. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { 7 in the nation before the season was cut short due to the recent pandemic, will now miss out on the 2021 postseason. 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. 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. During one of the alleged incidents, one player drew a swastika on a teammates face. 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. var sellablestring4 = "GAZETTE FILE PHOTO"; The Amherst lacrosse coach, Jon Thompson, posted his reaction to the incident and shared the disciplinary action he would be taking. The Amherst Student also reports this racist attack is the "second publicly-addressed hate incident within the last year that has involved mens lacrosse players." Phone Number: 673-6248. Chantal Da Silva is a breaking news editor for NBC News Digital based in London. Last year, after the anti-Semitic incident was made public, mens lacrosse still participated in matches and went on to compete in the NCAA national championships. In high school, Kaminska was a captain on both the boys' football and lacrosse teams, his obituary states. Learn from an outstanding staff comprised of local high school coaches and former high school and college players. // ]]>. The black lacrosse player then punched one of the players using the vulgar language. MORE: Womens soccer team suspended due to blackface Halloween costume, MORE: Vulgar texts prompt wrestling teams suspension, demands for expulsion, Like The College Fix on Facebook / Follow us on Twitter. It stated that a culture that both repeatedly violates standards of decency and also protects those responsible for those violations has no place at Amherst College. Stay tuned for updates from The Student regarding this storys development. President Biddy Martin learned about the incident on March 8, she told The Student in a statement. 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. Masslive.com reports. (WWLP) -. It is important that everyone understands the symptoms, risks, and management of a suspected brain injury. Concussions are a risk associated with any sport, physical activity or accident. No formal team gatherings will take place until November, meanwhile, and the team is forbidden from participating in NCAA postseason play next year. This includes, but is not limited to, captains practices and team-bonding activities. Catherine EpsteinProvost and Dean of the Faculty. P.O. No one responded by press time. The school is making itself ineligible for the 2021 postseason under the probation and has banned formal team gatherings until Nov. 1, which includes any player-run practices or other team-bonding activities. Devoe was fired as Amherst men's lacrosse head coach in June with two years left on his deal. 2022 The Amherst Student. After an investigation into Devoe verbally mistreating players who had broken the school's COVID-19 rules . A.L.A. 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. Amherst, NH 03031. Aidan Kaminska was a sophomore majoring in communications and was a midfielder on the Minutemen lacrosse team, according to his obituary. While the college declined to name the students involved in the incident, social media users took to Twitter to demand the students in question be expelled from school. Finally, we have also concluded that a change in leadership for the lacrosse team will be necessary. Amherst fired Thompson, who was in the midst of his 10th season in charge of the Mammoths. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBAmherstMLax-HG-032220,ph1'); [W]e have also concluded that a change in leadership for the lacrosse team will be necessary, the letter read. Breitbart News reported in 2016 that Harvard University had suspended the mens soccer team for the remainder of the season because some players had created a list that ranked players on the womens soccer team on the basis of their appearance. Student Affairs, however, is working with Amherst College Police Department and talking with the students involved so we can manage impact., That doesnt stop just because weve made this announcement [to send students home], Agosto said. Get the best and latest from USLaxMagazine.com delivered weekly straight to your inbox. His senior season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. 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. The Student reportedly confirmed the details of the incident with five people with knowledge of the situation. But it didnt end there. An early-morning dustup ensued, and one of the combatants was Black. Some students allegedly chanted the. 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." . According to a statement posted to the UMass Athletics website, the lacrosse player died on May 30 at the age of 19. According to the Globe, players have transferred, parents have expressed outrage and recruits are wary of enrolling in the elite small private liberal arts college.. The camp is for boys in the classes of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. . Please take the time to review the below information and view the below links. The image was then circulated on social media. Published on June 2, 2022 10:54 PM. 26 Feb Feb Amherst Lacrosse Association. Photo: Obituary. The Amherst Student also reports they have "been unable to confirm the disciplinary action taken by the college. offers outstanding youth lacrosse for players of all experience levels. Unfortunately, even these two incidents are not isolated. Newspapers dropped the comic strip after Scott Adams called Black people a hate group and called for racial segregation. After beating Salisbury, the Generals are rising the rankings fast. The school said it is doing further investigation into the team members and warns that if any player is found guilty under the colleges Student Code of Conduct for disrespect to others, vandalism or sexual misconduct, the team might not play in the spring of 2021 either. In retaliation, the victim punched one of the white players, and was immediate[ly] punish[ed], according to the Gazette. Launching Media Careers. All rights reserved. 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. NESCAC. 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. Agostos responsibility is now focused on our COVID response, she told The Student. var currentLocation = window.location; Kaminska had started playing lacrosse at a young age as part of a newly-formed program at Port Jefferson, New York, according to his obituary. 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. The Black lacrosse player and the person he was with were the only two Black people in the suite at the time, The Student confirmed with five people with knowledge of the situation. Jon Thompson was in his 10th year with Amherst. Early that morning, three members of the men's lacrosse team loudly, repeatedly said the N-word outside a black teammate's suite, according to The Amherst Student. 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.. var sellablestring3 = "STAFF FILE PHOTO"; OG Parkers Still Work Is A Testament To His Patience And Execution Which Are About To Pay Off In A Big Way. COURTESY GEOFFREY BOLTE/CLARUS STUDIOS INC./AMHERST COLLEGE, Daily Hampshire Gazette Contests & Promotions, Daily Hampshire Gazette Evening Top Reads, Daily Hampshire Gazette Weekly Top Stories, Daily Hampshire Gazette Dining & Entertainment, Support the IE 11 is not supported. Shawna Chen, a former reporter for the Amherst Student, confirmed the students' identities. In addition to lacrosse and football, Kaminska loved baby animals, especially ducklings and bunnies. 2023 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Things to Know About the Fashion Trailblazer Turned Advocate Bethann Hardison. In the wake of this latest controversy, the team is struggling to retain both its players and status. 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.. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBAmherstMLax-HG-032220,ph2'); 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. The Atlanta producer discusses his new single, debut album and fondest memories of Takeoff. College leadership, including Amherst President Biddy Martin and athletics director Don Faulstick, have since addressed the incident in a letter to the campus community, one in which they highlighted multiple instances of troubling behavior by the mens lacrosse program. In short, we cannot ignore the harmful culture that exists on the mens lacrosse team, and its damage to our community.. The incident that sparked the punishment was first reported by the Amherst Student on March 11. 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. He "enjoyed taking long walks in nature and he worked out fiercely," his obituary says. The Jumbos jumped up to the #6 seed in NESCAC with wins over the last two weekends at Amherst (2-0) and Hamilton (2-1) and on home ice . He will sorely be missed," the obituary says. This is not the first time that a university has punished an entire team over the actions of a few players. As much as colleges gain from the success of their sports teams, you have to admit that is some pretty strong conviction. 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