The season is over for the majority of the Middlebury women's swim team after school officials discovered recent violations of Middlebury hazing policies.
In an interview with the Orient, Middlebury College Director of Public Affairs Sarah Ray confirmed that most of the female swimmers would not compete in the upcoming NESCAC Championship.
"The first year students will finish out their season, but for the sophomores, juniors and seniors, the remainder of their season is canceled...the men's team is going to finish out its season," Ray said.
Ray then issued a statement providing more details about the decision to prematurely end the women's season.
"Middlebury College has investigated violations of the college's hazing policy by the men's and women's swim teams and determined that violations did occur...The violations took place during activities involving both teams on February 2," wrote Ray, reporting that the investigation began the following day.
"The teams were prohibited from competing at an invitational swim meet on the Middlebury campus [on] February 5," the statement continued.
"As of Monday, February 7, [Middlebury's] Department of Public Safety had interviewed more than 30 students. Based on these reports, college administrators have determined that the women's swim team, with the exception of the first-year students, will not compete for the remainder of the season."
"Both the men's and women's teams will be on probation next year," Ray added.
The recent incident is not the first time that hazing has affected the postseason prospects for the Middlebury swim team. In February 2006, the men's team was barred from competing in the Middlebury Invitational and the NESCAC Championships after hazing offenses involving alcohol were brought to light.