Princeton Suspends Men’s Swim Team Over ‘Misogynistic and Racist’ Email

Princeton University has suspended its men’s swimming and diving team after finding on the team’s email list what it described as content that was “vulgar and offensive, as well as misogynistic and racist.”

The university did not spell out the nature of the offensive content.

“We make clear to all of our student-athletes that they represent Princeton University at all times, on and off the playing surface and in and out of season, and we expect appropriate, respectful conduct from them at all times,” said the university’s athletic director, Mollie Marcoux Samaan. “The behavior that we have learned about is simply unacceptable. It is antithetical to the values of our athletic program and of the university, and will not be tolerated.”

The team has two meets remaining on its schedule as well as the Ivy League championships, in late February.

The program is only the latest to be penalized over the disclosure of offensive email content. Harvard University suspended its men’s soccer team in November after learning of a “scouting report” players had compiled about the women’s team. The men’s cross-country team at Harvard was punished this month after players were found to have put together a similar ranking of the women’s team.

In addition, Columbia University’s wrestling team was suspended last month for racist, sexist, and homophobic texts sent by some of its members. And Amherst College suspended its men’s cross-country team over sexist emails about women on its campus.