Girls Soccer Initiation - Northwestern University

Northwestern University Disciplines Women's Soccer Team Over Initiation Pictures - They were the photographs that launched a million page views: images of the Northwestern women's soccer team going through an initiation that included what appeared to be underage drinking, forced exercise, blindfolds and hands bound behind their backs, and simulated sex acts. Pictures that we found on the public photo sharing sites and published here back on May 15, 2006. Almost immediately the school suspended the team and vowed to investigate the incident. Now, almost four weeks later, a statement was released this afternoon by NU that says the investigation is complete and as a result: the program is no longer suspended, however some members of the team are being placed on probation (we suspect a few are on double-secret probation, but we'll save that discussion for another day.) The statement goes on to say that the entire team will be required to participate in a community service project and attend educational sessions on hazing. Some players involved in the incident will apparently serve suspensions from regular-season games during the upcoming season, which begins Aug. 25. And, although it doesn't specify what will be done, Northwestern also says that "additional disciplinary action will be taken against several more team members." Is this the end of initiations at Northwestern? Only time will tell. But we can stay that we are pleased to see Northwestern do a thorough investigation, follow its own rules and polices, and discipline athletes based on that. Unlike the University of Iowa which has still not responded to follow-up questions we sent them earlier this week asking why their own internal investigation into an alleged hazing of members of the men's baseball team didn't follow their written policy.