Parents Praise University for Cancelling Soccer Season

Parents on campus for Freshman Family Weekend largely praised Harvard’s recent decision to cancel the men’s soccer team’s season following a review that revealed the team continued to produce sexually explicit documents about female recruits.

The University's Office of the General Counsel announced last week that it would immediately review the “scouting report” produced by the 2012 men’s soccer team, reported by The Crimson last month.

One visiting parent, Dan Cousins, whose son and daughter are both involved in Harvard Athletics, commended Harvard’s response as setting an example for other teams.

“It’s probably good for the school to come down hard on the soccer team. If nothing else than to let everyone else know what’s going on, and that they have to be respectful of other people,” he said.

Signs hung on the walls of Memorial Hall welcomed freshman students' families to campus for Freshman Family Weekend for the Class of 2020. By Fiona E Lewis

Some parents said they were surprised when they initially heard about the “scouting reports,” in which members of the men’s soccer team ranked female soccer recruits based on perceived attractiveness.

Rita Nmai, whose son is in the Class of 2020, said she was “shocked.” Alix Quan, who also has a freshman, agreed.

“I guess I think it’s just sad that in today’s age that young people would act that way,” Quan said.

Michael Heijer, whose son plays on the club soccer team, had planned to watch a men’s varsity soccer game during parents’ weekend Saturday night. He called the turn of events a “bummer.”

“I think we’re all surprised and disappointed. I think it was too bad that they did what they did, and it’s unfortunate that they canceled the whole season,” Heijer said, but added, “They probably got what they deserved.”

Cousins said he hopes the University’s actions sends a message to other teams, including the wrestling team, of which his son is a part.

“Sometimes I worry about them because they’re very macho and they could go off and maybe without thinking get themselves into trouble and do the wrong thing. So I’m happy with the school for doing it,” he said, referring to the season cancellation.

Joe N. Giaquinto, a father of a Harvard freshman, praised the University’s actions and said he did not think “other Division I schools” would have cancelled a season under similar circumstances.

“Harvard took necessary action. This is why we send our kids to schools like this, because they don’t hide things away,” Giaquinto said.

—Staff writer Julia E. DeBenedictis can be reached at julia.debenedictis@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter @julia_debene.

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