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Franklin & Marshall women's lacrosse coach Lauren Paul (white shirt), shown huddling with her team in 2010. Paul was fired by the Lancaster, Pa., school Tuesday and a group of junior and senior players was suspended for the rest of the season after an investigation into a hazing complaint. (Franklin & Marshall photo / April 7, 2010) |
Lauren Paul (McDonogh), who won a Division III national championship as the women's lacrosse coach at Franklin & Marshall, has been fired by the Lancaster, Pa., school after an investigation into a hazing complaint.
Paul was dismissed Tuesday, and a group of junior and senior players was suspended for the rest of the season for planning and carrying out the hazing, which occurred last year, Kent Trachte, the school's dean, wrote in a letter sent to members of the college community.
The hazing wasn't described and the students involved weren't identified.
"F&M takes any allegation of hazing very seriously and has strong and clear policies against any form of hazing as part of our deep commitment to safeguarding student health, safety and well-being," Trachte wrote.
The school's formal investigation began April 10, after information about the hazing at an unsanctioned student-organized event was provided anonymously to the Lancaster Police Department, Trachte said.
"We make student athletes aware that there is a zero-tolerance policy against any form of hazing, and our coaches are responsible both for conveying and stewarding this policy," Cass Cliatt, F&M's spokeswoman, said in an email. "Not only is hazing a violation of our rules of conduct, it is against state law, and we cannot allow any activity in which students endanger themselves or others."
Paul, a three-time All-America lacrosse player at Franklin & Marshall, took over as coach before the 2008-09 season and led the Diplomats to the Division III championship in her first year. It was the program's second title in three seasons.
Paul has been replaced by Melissa Mariano, who also coaches women's field hockey.
The school cited the federal Family and Educational Rights and Policy Act in refusing to identify the suspended players. The current roster and past statistics sheets showed 11 players no longer listed, including seven of the team's 10 top scorers. The players remain enrolled at the school, Cliatt said.
A three-year study into college hazing released by the University of Maine in 2008 found that 74 percent of those who were members of a varsity sports team experienced at least one incident of hazing.
Maryland placed a league-high four players on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference men's team, which was announced Wednesday.
Senior attackman Joe Cummings (Loyola) and sophomore goalie Niko Amato made the team for the second-straight season, and junior long pole Jesse Bernhardt and junior midfielder John Haus are first-time selections.
Other selections included North Carolina junior attackman Marcus Holman (Gilman) and Virginia senior attackman Steele Stanwick (Loyola),
More men's honors: Loyola junior defender Reid Acton was named Eastern College Athletic Conference Lacrosse League Defensive Player of the Week for the second time in three weeks. ... Salisbury senior attackman Tony Mendes was selected as the Capital Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, while senior goalie Tyler Powell (Archbishop Spalding) was named the Defensive Player of the Week.
Women's honors: Alex Aust was named ACC Offensive Player of the Week. ... Towson sophomore attacker Andi Raymond was chosen as the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week. ... Virginia junior goalkeeper Kim Kolarik (South River) earned her third Defensive Player of the Week honor. ... Mount St. Mary's defender Gabe Little (North Carroll) was named Northeast Conference Defensive Player of the Week. ... UMBC senior attacker Emily Coady earned America East Player of the Week honors, while Retrievers freshman goalkeeper Anna Barnett was named the league's Defender of the Week. ... For the third week in a row, Salisbury (15-0) sits atop the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association Top 20 coaches poll. It is the first week the Sea Gulls are the unanimous choice atop the poll; they garnered all 20 first-place votes.
