Before we do, we acknowledge that our decisions come at an extremely difficult time when we are all faced with the rapid spread and heartbreaking impact of the COVID-19 virus. Thompson, in his 10th year with Amherst, went 18-4 last season and lost in the NCAA Division III championship game to Cabrini. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. The camp is for boys in the classes of 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. . 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 letter said, according to the Boston Globe. Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting. Email Inquires related to Amherst Lacrosse: Amherstreclacrosse@gmail.com. Hanna highlighted Amherst Colleges values, which are [promoting] diversity, inclusion, and respect, adding, We have a majority minority student body, an increasingly diverse faculty and staff and a community dedicated to the work of inclusion We are confident that a full legal review of the complaint will support our position that it is without merit., WBUR stated that Devoes intention with the lawsuit is to regain his position at Amherst College, in which he made $90,000 a year, as well as financial damages. 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. var sellablestring3 = "STAFF FILE PHOTO"; This is the second publicly-addressed hate incident within the last year that has involved mens lacrosse players. 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. Its essential that we get more information and get to the bottom of what happened. 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.. He also enjoyed cooking and experimenting in the kitchen, including making homemade pickles with his mother. We can take a number of necessary steps during this very difficult period so that more of what we need is in place in the fall. 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. His senior season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unfortunately, even these two incidents are not isolated. 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. Email Inquiries related to Jamboree or NHYLA Festival and fundraising: University of Massachusetts-Amherst lacrosse player Aidan Kaminska was found dead at 19. Bigotry and prejudice are not solely attached to the age groups that witnessed Jim Crow first-hand. Amherst athletes are required to follow the behavioral standards set by the athletic department and the College honor code as well. Amherst College suspends men's lacrosse team, terminates coach in connection with racial incident By Jim Clark Globe Correspondent, Updated March 20, 2020, 6:49 p.m. Students walked on the. It began with a 25-15 loss at Tufts on March 7, followed by a night of commiserating at Jenkins Hall. 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. 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. 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. "Aidan was known for his infectious smile, being a good friend, and a tremendous athlete," the obituary reads. 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. History. Police say that last October Ferrante was hired to build a seasonal room and was paid over $8,500. 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.. 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. The Amherst lacrosse coach, Jon Thompson, posted his reaction to the incident and shared the disciplinary action he would be taking. "University resources are available for members of the UMass community to utilize during this challenging time," it said. 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." 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. They added that the incident was only the most recent in a list of deeply troubling cases involving some team members over the years. 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.. EducationSportsTechAcademic InsanityAmherst Collegecollege sportslacrosse. The student community at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is mourning after a 19-year-old student and star lacrosse player died unexpectedly Monday. 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. Amherst Lacrosse Team on Probation By Lilah Burke March 23, 2020 The Boston Globehas reported that Amherst College has placed its men's lacrosse team on probation through the 2021 season and terminated coach Jon Thompson after a racist incident involving the team. (WWLP) -. 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. Published: 8/17/2021 9:21:25 PM. Elon Musk Says Media Is Racist Against White People In Defense Of Dilbert Cartoonists Rant. "The Massachusetts athletics department extends condolences to Aidan's family,. var photocredit = "'COURTESY GEOFFREY BOLTE/CLARUS STUDIOS INC./AMHERST COLLEGE' 'The Amherst College mens lacrosse team celebrates during a 16-13 win over Wesleyan in the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Pratt Field. But it didnt end there. 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. 4 Cross Road. This August, following Devoes dismissal, Amherst College announced the hiring of former head coach at Colorado College, Sean Woods, as the programs new head coach. The image was then circulated on social media. Olivia Gieger 21 and Henry Newton 21 contributed reporting to this article. If true, it is unclear why the entire team was suspended; according to the schools website, there are fifty lacrosse players at the college. It is not tolerable to have a racist slur used against anyone. var sellablestring2 = "STAFF PHOTO"; Amherst College coach Jon Thompson, right, watches from the sidelines during a mens lacrosse game against Bowdoin on March 9, 2019. Woods leadership may be a deciding factor in the lacrosse programs future. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Contribute to Atlanta Black Star today and help us share our narratives. In the most recent incident according to a story written by Amherst student journalist Shawn Chen three athletes on the mens lacrosse team chanted the n-word outside of the suite of a black lacrosse player on March 7. 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. Tagged: Lacrosse, Gigi Picard, Amherst College, Rashad Devoe, Lawsuit, Mount Holyoke Tennis and Rowing start their competitive seasons, Game of the Week: Mount Holyoke Cross Country, Field Hockey, Soccer and Volleyball, Amherst College faces lawsuit by former lacrosse head coach. I dont believe anyone will face consequences until the facts are known.. Aidan Kaminska, a sophomore . In short, we cannot ignore the harmful culture that exists on the mens lacrosse team, and its damage to our community.. 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. // -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { The team will participate in an impromptu intrasquad scrimmage tomorrow so that the team, particularly seniors, will be able to play before departing campus indefinitely after the suspension of all spring sports due to the colleges COVID-19 response. Some students allegedly chanted the. Get details on the student-athlete's life and legacy below. 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. 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. So yeah, please dont fall into the trap of believing that white Baby Boomers and their predecessors leaving the Earth will somehow eradicate racism. It is important that everyone understands the symptoms, risks, and management of a suspected brain injury. The incident involved three white players from the team who chanted the N-word outside a Black teammates dorm room, as reported by the Daily Hampshire Gazette. The alleged verbal mistreatment occurred after athletes reportedly held a practice outside on an Amherst College green, in violation of the colleges COVID-19 rules. On March 12, all spring sports at Amherst College were suspended due to the coronavirus. The squabble was first reported by student-run paper The Amherst Student earlier this month. In the fall, every member of the team will complete an educational program determined by the provost and the dean of the faculty, in consultation with the chief diversity and inclusion officer and the director of athletics; 2. The black lacrosse player then punched one of the players using the vulgar language. The suspension continues a trend of universities and college suspending entire sports teams over the actions of a small group of players. The Amherst Student also reports they have "been unable to confirm the disciplinary action taken by the college. He was named All-County Midfielder in his junior year for lacrosse. The team has also been accused of using language that ridiculed the transgender community. 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. Learn from an outstanding staff comprised of local high school coaches and former high school and college players. P.O. Amherst athletes are required to follow thebehavioral standards set by the athletic departmentand the College honor code as well. Thompson finishes his Amherst career with a 125-47 record with seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament. It marked the second reported bias incident involving the mens lacrosse team within the past year. Findings of individual responsibility for violating the Honor Code lie with the disciplinary process in the Office of Student Affairs. A.L.A. It is not tolerable to have a racist slur used against anyone. Ferrante, 72, of Lancaster, was arrested and charged with felony grand . 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. Agostos responsibility is now focused on our COVID response, she told The Student. We realize that not every student on the mens lacrosse team has actively participated in the violations that have come to light. 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. Thompson led the Mammoths to its first national championship game last season, and the team was ranked No. '"; According to the Northwestern district attorney's office, five passengers in the vehicle were wounded in the incident and were brought to surrounding hospitals for treatment. But Devoe, a Black man, felt there was more to the story. The Massachusetts college published a letter on March 20 explaining the decision. Following the incident, Dean Epstein sent a letter to the Amherst College community pointing out that this was actually only one of several incidents of bigoted or otherwise unruly behavior surrounding the team, including transphobia aimed at staff members and vandalism in dorms. // ]]>. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); A former Amherst College men's lacrosse coach who was fired before he coached a game for the school alleged Friday in a federal lawsuit that he became a victim of Amherst's "cozy relationship. Amherst Athletics confirmed the report to US Lacrosse Magazine and included the letter sent to faculty, staff and students (below). I am committed to ensuring that we take those steps for the benefit of the entire Amherst community, Martin said. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBAmherstMLax-HG-032220,ph1'); }. '"; 26 Feb Feb Aidan Kaminska starred in lacrosse and football at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in Port Jefferson, NY . From the beginning, several Amherst parents considered Devoes coaching methods to be unacceptable. 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 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. That may have been a reference to the firing of lacrosse coach Jon Thompson, who was dismissed by the school last month. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ''; (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright USA Lacrosse Magazine On the basis of a pattern that is endemic and egregious, and that requires immediate correction, we have determined, effective immediately, that the mens lacrosse team is placed on probation through June 30, 2021. 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. An early-morning dustup ensued, and one of the combatants was Black. 7 in the country this year before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. features programs for the beginner to the varsity level. Rodney Robinson . The singer-songwriter has a musical career spanning over two decades. Former Amherst College men's lacrosse head coach Rashad Devoe has filed a discrimination lawsuit against the school, per The Boston Globe. Mon-Fri, 8am - 4pm. Theyre societal, systematic, and most importantly, taught and learned over time. The team over recent years has been responsible for other violations, including vandalism in the dorms, overtaxing our custodial and facilities staff, and at times creating unsafe conditions. 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. 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. According to a report by the College Fix, Amherst College has suspended its mens lacrosse team through 2021 over an alleged incident that involved three players. 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. Players will be given the chance to play by Spring 2021 if they follow certain requirements of the college. Provoked, the Black lacrosse player punched one of the teammates chanting the n-word. 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. 2023 NAACP Image Awards: 5 Things to Know About the Fashion Trailblazer Turned Advocate Bethann Hardison. 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. We will review whether this prohibition will continue into additional future seasons at the conclusion of the Spring 2021 season. Box 1013. Mar 17 (Fri) 11 AM. 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. A.L.A. Amherst College is remaining largely silent regarding questions related to the suspension of its mens lacrosse team through the 2021 season, a decision the school said was in response to several deeply troubling incidents on campus. This weekend is the first anniversary of the lacrosse meltdown at Amherst College, an ugly chain of events that continues to wreak havoc on the program. Whoever said racism will go away once older generations of white people die off severely underestimates how much bigotry gets passed down from one generation to the next. The Amherst College mens lacrosse team has a recent history of controversy. We realize that not every student on the mens lacrosse team has actively participated in the violations that have come to light. The Atlanta producer discusses his new single, debut album and fondest memories of Takeoff. That process is underway. The letter described several other incidents that led to a decision of this nature. 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