Harvard athletic director Erin McDermott said Tuesday that an independent investigation found no culture of hazing in the Crimson women's hockey program, but that some team traditions will change nonetheless.
As reported by The Harvard Crimson student newspaper, the Harvard athletic department's eighth major review since 2016 was conducted by law firm Jenner and Block. It was prompted by allegations published in The Boston Globe and The Athletic that head coach Katey Stone fostered a toxic environment for more than 20 years by denigrating players, ignoring injuries and disregarding mental health issues. Former players also reported a culture of hazing and fear.
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Stone retired June 7 after 27 seasons with the program.
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“Our current women’s ice hockey team has not fostered a culture of hazing,” McDermott wrote in an internal email Tuesday. “However, it is clear that some traditions in recent years were experienced differently by different people and not all were comfortable with those activities or with expressing concerns relating to the program. We now have an opportunity to end team traditions that are harmful to team culture and inconsistent with our community norms.”
An analysis by The Crimson found that the women’s ice hockey team's 20 percent retention rate of Class of 2023 members was lowest among the 40 teams for which rosters are listed online. According to The Globe, 14 recruited athletes have quit the team since 2016.
McDermott wrote on Tuesday that Harvard athletics has an opportunity “to lead and foster a culture that reflects our values of mutual respect, support of one another, transparency in our processes and procedures, and a focus on the safety and dignity of our student-athletes.”
“Our department’s procedures and communications with student-athletes have led to confusion and frustration among members of our community, and there are areas where we must improve."
In her email to Harvard athletics affiliates, McDermott pledged to prioritize a new reporting pipeline for harmful behavior.
“The Athletics Department, with support from the College, will instruct student-athletes and all administrative and coaching staff annually on reporting conduct that is inconsistent with Harvard’s community standards,” McDermott wrote.
“This will include whom to speak about concerns without fear of retribution or reprisal, and how concerns are adjudicated and resolved, both within Harvard Athletics and in the College.”
McDermott also wrote that the initiatives will include clear communication of resources for mental health and balancing academic and athletic schedules, according to Crimson staff writer Sophia Scott.
“We, I, must do more to ensure that every student-athlete feels supported in this community,” McDermott wrote.
Beyond departmental initiatives, McDermott announced that Harvard athletics and Harvard College will also be introducing “a leadership academy program to provide enhanced pedagogical opportunities for students who hold leadership roles across the College.”
The program will aim to “promote positive cultural norms” and help students “navigate challenging situations and difficult conversations,” according to McDermott, as reported by Scott in The Crimson.
“This program will support our collective focus on updating team traditions to align with our values, and will help us move forward positively as a community,” McDermott added.
