Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd cancels men’s soccer season over hazing incident

Claremont McKenna and Harvey Mudd colleges near Los Angeles canceled the schools’ combined men’s soccer season this week due to a hazing incident that an administrator described as “demeaning and potentially dangerous.”

The incident, which occurred Oct. 1, involved almost the entire team, which is made up of players from both schools. College officials did not release the details, but an email to students said players “subjected new team members to acts of hazing that were demeaning and potentially dangerous,” according to the student newspaper, the Student Life.

Claremont McKenna and Harvey Mudd, which are part of the Claremont Colleges, plan to increase campus education on hazing, promote positive team-building activities and provide mental health counseling for students who were impacted, said Claremont McKenna spokeswoman Gilien Silsby.

“As is often the case in difficult times, the opportunities for growth and character building are significant, and we have every reason to believe these men and this team will be better versions of themselves as they emerge from this difficult moment,” Silbsy said.

The team, which plays in Division III, competes in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Prior to its season being canceled, the Stags were 4-1-2 in the conference and were predicted to finish the season at No. 1. Last year they were undefeated in the conference and finished 14-2-3 overall.