Saint Mary's athletes face suspension after sexist tweets
Halifax university was the centre of rape chant controversy in the fall
Saint Mary’s University will suspend up to nine members from its football team after they published messages of “hate, racism and sexism” online, the Halifax school said Monday.
Saint Mary's University was the subject of international scrutiny in the fall after a video emerged of a frosh week chant encouraging underage sex without consent.
The university appointed a panel to look into that incident and said it would change the culture on campus.
But some players used Twitter to continue to post obscene messages.
One player tweeted, “that bitch bit me last night. Hope your dead in a ditch, you are scum.”
Other posts included racist jokes and slurs about women and homosexuals.
'Completely inappropriate and unacceptable'
“The comments posted by these individuals are completely inappropriate and unacceptable,” said David Gauthier, vice-president academic and research. “They are inconsistent with our university values and with what we have committed to address as recommendations from the President’s Council Report.”
SMU said between six and nine players will be suspended from the football team. They have not been suspended from the university. SMU said they could face further discipline under the school’s code of conduct if the school confirms they wrote the posts.
In December, the university endorsed a report from an independent council that contains 20 recommendations on cultural changes to "prevent sexual violence and inspire respectful behaviour and a safe learning environment at Saint Mary’s."