McGill cancels football season (hazing)

[hoosier]

10/18/2005 5:56:48 PM

MONTREAL (CP) - McGill University officials cancelled the remainder of football team's season Tuesday in the wake of a report that confirmed a hazing incident.

The announcement came following an investigation into a complaint launched by a 18-year-old rookie who alleged he was sexually assaulted with a broomstick by a veteran player while others looked on and cheered.

The university said its investigation concluded that ''serious hazing including threats and intimidation, by comments and actions and by the use of demeaning, stereotyped epithets'' did occur during Rookie Night on Aug. 27.

Masi said contrary to some media reports, there is no evidence that anyone was sodomized. But the university said the investigation ''shows that the event did involve nudity, degrading positions and behaviours, gagging, touching in inappropriate manners with a broomstick, as well as verbal and physical intimidation of rookies by a large portion of the team.''

''This behaviour of the football team has stained the reputation of the McGill Redmen, McGill Athletics, and the University,'' the university said in a release Tuesday.