Columbia is suspending its wrestling season after a leak of offensive text messages
REUTERS/Mike Segar
The messages, shared on the private messaging app GroupMe, were peppered with derogatory references to women, minorities, and gay people. Screenshots of the messages were made public by independent student-run news site Bwog.
The university described the inflammatory messages as "appalling" in a statement.
"Columbia University has zero tolerance in its athletics programs for the group messaging and texts sent by several members of the men's varsity wrestling team. They are appalling, at odds with the core values of the University, violate team guidelines, and have no place in our community," the statement said.
Over the weekend, Columbia students protested outside the house of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, whose members include wrestlers.
"Seeing that dialogue happening behind closed doors with our classmates and our peers was very, very shocking," Claire Fry, a sophomore at the university, told the Times.
On Monday a Facebook event called "Holding Men's Athletics Accountable" urged students to "protest the culture that permeates Columbia's men's athletics teams." The page also said the messages were a "systemic issue likely exacerbated by our president-elect's rise."
Hate crimes have spiked in the US since Donald Trump was elected president on Tuesday, and the Southern Poverty Law Center said there have been more than 200 incidents of harassment and intimidation since the election.
Similar incidents involving discrimination and harassment have also cropped up at other campuses.
On Friday, black students at University of Pennsylvania were unknowingly added to a racial slur-filled GroupMe chat that included a "daily lynching calendar," prompting an FBI investigation.
Last month, Harvard cancelled its men's soccer season after it was revealed players created lewd "scouting reports" that rated members of the women's soccer team based on their attractiveness.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
- Catan adds climate change to the latest edition of the world-famous board game
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- Tired of blatant misinformation in the media? This video game can help you and your family fight fake news!
- JNK India IPO allotment – How to check allotment, GMP, listing date and more
- Indian Army unveils selfie point at Hombotingla Pass ahead of 25th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market