by Helen V. Cantwell, Mary Beth Hogan, Arian June, Daniel Alford, Omid Golmohammadi, and Michael Compton McGregor
Top left to right: Helen V. Cantwell, Mary Beth Hogan, and Arian June. Bottom right to left: Daniel Alford, Omid Golmohammadi, and Michael Compton McGregor. (Photos courtesy of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP)
Hazing and abuse in athletics at academic institutions have reached a boiling point recently, with high-profile allegations levied at top universities. These incidents are not only painful for those students personally affected, but they can also result in intense media coverage, reputational harm, and legal actions.
As recent events have shown, it is imperative for academic institutions to have a plan for both preventing and addressing hazing. The best approach is to be proactive, as no institution is above scrutiny and most, if not all, institutions have room for improvement. In order to help mitigate potential legal, financial and reputational risks, administrators and board trustees at these institutions should consider taking the following steps: