Rowan Finds Potential Harassment, Bullying Among Athletes

GLASSBORO, NJ - A blog post written by a student in November prompted an investigation in which Rowan University discovered possible harassment, bullying and incivility among its athletes, officials said in a statement released Monday.

Gina Capone's post had raised questions about gender inequity and harassment against members of the university’s cross country team.

Although the university wasn’t able to substantiate Capone's claims under Title IX, the Office of Equity & Diversity did find “potential issues related to harassment, bullying and incivility,” officials said.

Those issues are now the focus of an investigation by an independent expert, Rowan University President Dr. Ali Houshmand said in a message on the school’s website.

“Although examining this has been uncomfortable for everyone involved, I am grateful I had the opportunity to speak with the author of the blog and start what has become a very important conversation throughout our University community,” Houshmand said on Monday. “I also appreciate the perspectives of more than 100 student-athletes who attended meetings starting in November to discuss issues well beyond that of the women’s cross country and track & field team training apparel. These interactions have been respectful and, in many cases, eye-opening.”

The investigation was spurred by a blog post in which Cappone claimed the university told female members of the cross country team they could no longer practice in sports bras because it was distracting to the football players. She also said they were barred from running on the university’s track, and forced to practice at local high school tracks.

“The fact that the Athletic Department supports the claim of this being distracting, or the women "asking for it," is disgusting,” she wrote.

Shortly after the blog post went live, the university explained its long-standing verbal policy that all athletes must wear shirts, even during practice.

“The verbal policy was adopted as a matter of keeping a level of standards throughout its men's and women's programs,” the university said at the time.

Athletes who weren’t aware of the policy interpreted it as a new policy when members of staff explained it to them, according to a statement from the university issued in November. Soon thereafter, the school developed a written policy that allowed female athletes to practice in sports bras.

On Monday, Houshmand said the university is reviewing and revising the student-athlete handbook, athletic department policy manual, student-athlete policies and all team rules.

“We clarified the dress code and affirmed that sports bras are appropriate practice attire for cross country and track & field student-athletes,” Houshmand said. “We also are clarifying policies on scheduling and access to facilities, as well as planning online access to all policies and rules for student-athletes.

“We learned that students had received incomplete and/or insufficient information on a number of key athletics-related issues, including locker room location, competition and practice apparel, facilities scheduling and general team rules. We are taking steps to improve communication and access to information.”

The university has hired an independent expert to review athletics department policies and procedures and to perform a comprehensive evaluation of Title IX compliance at the school. She will issue a report by June 30, Houshmand said.

To read the full statement, visit rowan.edu.