The head of the University of New Mexico’s athletics program said an ugly incident involving the hazing of freshmen members of the women’s soccer team “was simply wrong” and “indefensible,” but denied claims made by one former student that the young women were forced to strip naked and sprayed with urine.
“There’s no question this was hazing. It was wrong. None of us want to minimize it. It was unacceptable,” UNM Vice President for Athletics Paul Krebs told reporters Wednesday. Krebs said the hazing incident Sunday — in which two players became so drunk she had to be taken to the hospital — involved the whole team, but freshmen girls were sprayed with windshield cleaning fluid and that none were forced to strip naked.
The allegations were made this week by one victim’s parents and also an Albuquerque attorney hired by the family of another victim, according to NBC affiliate KOB. Krebs admitted school officials “should have done more” to prevent hazing. A game was canceled and all members of the team will have to do community service, and could face further sanctions from the university, he said. Krebs said all but one former student denied there was any nudity.
IN-DEPTH
- UNM AD Krebs: 'No Question This Was Hazing' (KOB)
- Lawyer: UNM Women's Soccer Players Forced to Strip Naked (KOB)