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University of Michigan hockey players sue over alleged decades of sexual hazing
Sixteen former men’s ice hockey players at the University of Michigan have filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit alleging they were subjected to ritualized and sadistic sexual hazing between 1984 and 2001. The plaintiffs, identified as John Does, claim the abuse was a mandatory condition of membership in the program.
The graphic allegations include forced genital shaving, anal penetration with razor handles, singeing pubic hair with blowtorches, and tying testicles to hockey helmets or buckets weighted with pucks. The lawsuit further alleges that players were forced to consume excessive alcohol and eat live fish.
The complaint specifically names former longtime head coach Red Berenson, alleging he was aware of the practices and helped facilitate them by instructing upperclassmen to shave younger players in ways that concealed the evidence. It also claims coaching staff discouraged complaints by telling players to be ‘Michigan Men’ or ‘good teammates,’ and that some players faced reduced playing time for protesting.
The University of Michigan has described the allegations as ‘disturbing’ but denied responsibility, stating that any misconduct by student-athletes would have violated university policy. Berenson, who coached from 1984 to 2017, has acknowledged some form of freshman initiation existed but stated that no one had complained to him directly.
Entities
Mel Pearson · Michael Pitt · Paul Corliss · Red Berenson · University of Michigan
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The University of Michigan denies responsibility, stating that any misconduct would have violated university policy. www.thealpenanews.com · www.nytimes.com
- [● 15 SOURCES] Sixteen former University of Michigan hockey players filed a federal sex discrimination lawsuit in Detroit. www.thealpenanews.com · offthepress.com · yournews.com · athletistic.com · www.michiganpublic.org · +10 more
- [● 15 SOURCES] Former head coach Red Berenson allegedly knew about and facilitated the hazing. www.thealpenanews.com · offthepress.com · yournews.com · athletistic.com · www.michiganpublic.org · +10 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Hazing rituals included forced genital shaving, anal penetration, and tying testicles to hockey helmets or buckets weighted with pucks. offthepress.com · athletistic.com · www.michiganpublic.org · www.ibtimes.co.uk · www.nytimes.com · +1 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The lawsuit alleges that players who complained were penalized with reduced playing time. athletistic.com · www.usmagazine.com
- [● 15 SOURCES] The alleged sexualized hazing occurred between 1984 and 2001. www.thealpenanews.com · offthepress.com · yournews.com · athletistic.com · www.michiganpublic.org · +10 more