Harvard Cancels Men’s Soccer Season for Sexually Explicit ‘Reports’

The Harvard men's soccer team had the remainder of its season cancelled on Thursday for producing sexually explicit "scouting reports" that rate women, particularly those on the Harvard women's soccer team, for their physical appearance.

Harvard Athletic Director Robert L. Scalise made the decision after an investigation revealed the problem was a widespread practice the program had for years.

Back in 2012, the men's soccer program was initially caught writing "scouting reports" on six women's soccer recruits. Each "scouting report" included a numerical rating on each athlete's physical attraction, as well as a "hypothetical sexual position."

If Harvard's season continued this year and it won on Saturday versus Columbia, Harvard would have won the Ivy League title and clinched a bid to the NCAA tournament.

I have a couple of reactions to this story, but first, great work from Harvard University and the athletic department. After what we've seen happen at places like Penn State and Baylor, it's refreshing to see a university actually follow the law AND its conscience.

Secondly, what purpose do these "scouting reports" even serve for the men of Harvard soccer? Not only is it a stupid and reckless activity, but they also continued these documents after getting caught a few years ago. It's called learning from your mistakes, something Harvard men's soccer clearly struggled with.

Third, I hope not everyone on the men's team was involved. It's likely there were a couple guys who wanted little to no part with these reports, and they're paying the price because of their teammates idiocy. And if they all openly and willingly participated, well, shame on them.

Lastly, at what point do we finally start valuing and treating women as they deserve? Whether female athletes, female students or females in general, they deserve better treatment than what they've experienced throughout history.

Part of the issue lies with males not understanding the repercussions their actions have. Dehumanizing women, seeing them as objects or numbers on a "sexually attractive" scale, is the slippery slope that leads to violence. Domestic violence and abuse are more likely when you start to see another person as something other than a human being.

Whether it's Duke lacrosse, Tennessee, Minnesota, Baylor and so on, the list of sexual abuse scandals in NCAA athletics doesn't seem to end.

Not all guys or male athletes are scumbags and partake in these heinous acts, but the examples these collegiate and professional athletes, as well as some coaches and higher-ups in universities, have been setting the past few years have been predominantly negative.

It's time to shape up, men.

Source: The Harvard Crimson

See Also: