Suspended BC Swimmers File Suit, Seek Injunction For Return To Pool

CHESTNUT HILL, MA — Members of the Boston College men's and women's swimming and diving team have filed a civil lawsuit against university administrators after the program was suspended in September due to reports of alleged hazing, multiple news outlets reported.

In addition to the suit, which was filed by 37 unnamed members of the co-ed team, lawyers representing the athletes also requested a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction that would let the athletes resume their season.

According to ESPN, a Middlesex County Superior Court judge is expected to conduct a hearing about the injunction request on Tuesday.

Boston College suspended the swimming and diving programs on Sept. 20 due to alleged hazing.

Initially, the university said that administrators determined the hazing had taken place within the program. A university statement later was revised to say there were "credible reports of hazing," and that "a program suspension was warranted pending a full investigation by the university."

The Heights, an independent student news outlet at BC, reported that it had obtained an administrator's letter suggesting the allegations were related to an event in September where attendees "were allegedly instructed to binge drink and forced to drink their own vomit."

The letter, The Heights reported, also suggested that members of the team allegedly engaged in underage drinking at two additional events.

According to ESPN, the lawsuit, which seeks an unspecified amount of damages, claims the university imposed an unjustified "blanket suspension" and ended the season before an investigation into allegations was completed.

The lawsuit names university trustees, Athletic Director Blake James and Senior Associate Athletic Director Reggie Terry as defendants.

According to sources, the suit claims James and Terry made a defamatory statement and accuses James of taking "drastic, unfair and unprecedented" action against the team.

The athletes in the lawsuit are only identified as "John Doe" and "Jane Doe." In addition to damages, the suit is seeking a retraction of the university's statement and a reversal of the suspension.

Earlier this week, Jack Dunn, a Boston College spokesperson, responded to the lawsuit in a statement.

"The investigation and university conduct process involving these credible and serious allegations of hazing will continue through the Office of the Dean of Students, undeterred by any threats of legal action," Dunn said in the statement.