BU task force must underscore need for hockey team to change
FEBRUARY 25, 2012
BOSTON UNIVERSITY President Robert Brown has taken an important preliminary step in establishing a task force to examine the culture of BU’s hockey team. But it will take more than thoughtful conversation to repair the reputation of the team, of which two members have been accused of rape or sexual assault, amid numerous reports of boorish behavior and insensitivity to other students.
“To us, men’s hockey is like Duke basketball, Syracuse basketball, and USC and Texas football,’’ Brown said in an interview, indicating he knew precisely how much the alleged incidents could damage the reputation of a campus that has 33,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
While Brown is right to let the task force do its job before ordering any changes, one important addition might be designating a coach to monitor the behavior of athletes away from the rink. BU won the national hockey championship in 2009 and in the process became intertwined in a professionalized collegiate hockey culture that is arguably more complex than for football or basketball. College football and basketball players must stay utterly clear of the National Football League or National Basketball Association until they are drafted as seniors or leave college early.
Both alleged sexual assailants, Max Nicastro and Corey Trivino, were drafted by National Hockey League teams in 2008. Even with their dismissals, BU says nine of 24 current players have already been drafted by NHL teams. This means they train in professional camps and rub shoulders with the pros, then return to campus with an extra dose of testosterone-fueled entitlement. In addition, hockey players tend to be older than other students because many of them play in amateur development leagues between high school and college. Thus, even some sophomores are of drinking age. Several BU hockey players will turn 24 or 25 this year, while attending classes with 18- and 19-year-old undergrads.
All these factors make the hockey team a society unto itself. Policing this unit may be too overwhelming for the well-respected and three-time NCAA champion hockey coach Jack Parker. In a recent Globe interview, Parker sounded almost defeated, saying, “You can’t change the culture that’s evolved here; we’re not going to be able to step into people’s lives and change them drastically.’’
But BU hockey must change or give up the team. BU, which dropped its costly football program in the late 1990s, has built a deserved reputation as a major university with a proper balance of academics and sports. The graduation rates of nearly all its men’s and women’s teams are roughly the same as the student body at large - an unusual accomplishment. The task force gives BU a chance to preserve that balance, in the sport that most threatens to upset it.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:In Globe today:BU task force must underscore need for hockey team to change
FEBRUARY 25, 2012
BOSTON UNIVERSITY President Robert Brown has taken an important preliminary step in establishing a task force to examine the culture of BU’s hockey team. But it will take more than thoughtful conversation to repair the reputation of the team, of which two members have been accused of rape or sexual assault, amid numerous reports of boorish behavior and insensitivity to other students.
“To us, men’s hockey is like Duke basketball, Syracuse basketball, and USC and Texas football,’’ Brown said in an interview, indicating he knew precisely how much the alleged incidents could damage the reputation of a campus that has 33,000 graduate and undergraduate students.
While Brown is right to let the task force do its job before ordering any changes, one important addition might be designating a coach to monitor the behavior of athletes away from the rink. BU won the national hockey championship in 2009 and in the process became intertwined in a professionalized collegiate hockey culture that is arguably more complex than for football or basketball. College football and basketball players must stay utterly clear of the National Football League or National Basketball Association until they are drafted as seniors or leave college early.
Both alleged sexual assailants, Max Nicastro and Corey Trivino, were drafted by National Hockey League teams in 2008. Even with their dismissals, BU says nine of 24 current players have already been drafted by NHL teams. This means they train in professional camps and rub shoulders with the pros, then return to campus with an extra dose of testosterone-fueled entitlement. In addition, hockey players tend to be older than other students because many of them play in amateur development leagues between high school and college. Thus, even some sophomores are of drinking age. Several BU hockey players will turn 24 or 25 this year, while attending classes with 18- and 19-year-old undergrads.
All these factors make the hockey team a society unto itself. Policing this unit may be too overwhelming for the well-respected and three-time NCAA champion hockey coach Jack Parker. In a recent Globe interview, Parker sounded almost defeated, saying, “You can’t change the culture that’s evolved here; we’re not going to be able to step into people’s lives and change them drastically.’’
But BU hockey must change or give up the team. BU, which dropped its costly football program in the late 1990s, has built a deserved reputation as a major university with a proper balance of academics and sports. The graduation rates of nearly all its men’s and women’s teams are roughly the same as the student body at large - an unusual accomplishment. The task force gives BU a chance to preserve that balance, in the sport that most threatens to upset it.
http://bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/02/25/task-force-must-underscore-need-for-hockey-team-change/3RK5HtwXqaktcDMJDQFuSO/story.html
RedBaron67 {l Wrote}:None of this (at least so far) changes the fact that BU has a strong group of recruits in the pipeline (6 on the current NHL Midterm list). I doubt that's going to change until Parker goes (one way or another).
Dear Colleagues and Students,
As you know from my February 23 announcement, I am convening a Task Force on Men’s Hockey which will examine the culture of our men’s ice hockey team and report back to me in the summer. I am writing to let you know that the formation of the Task Force is now complete, and you may find a list of members and read the charge to the Task Force on my web site [http://www.bu.edu/president/letters-writings/letters/2012/3-07]. You can also find further information on BU Today [http://www.bu.edu/today/2012/president-names-task-force-on-ice-hockey].
This Task Force will meet and consult with the full spectrum of our community and outside experts. They will commence their work immediately and report their findings during the summer. This way, we will have an opportunity to consider how we can implement recommendations before the next academic year begins.
I am especially grateful to Dr. Jonathan Cole, chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, and University Provost Jean Morrison for taking on the important work of co-chairing this group.
Sincerely,
Robert A. Brown
President
bignick33 {l Wrote}:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/sports/hockey/arrests-prompting-hard-look-at-top-hockey-program.html?_r=2
With so many players participating in junior leagues before attending college, the result is a substantial age difference between the hockey players and the rest of the student body. According to a survey taken by Hockey East last October, the average freshman hockey player in Division I is more than 20 years old. The Terriers have seven players who are 23 or older, and Connolly and his fellow senior Kevin Gilroy turn 25 this year.
bignick33 {l Wrote}:The worst of the charges against Trevino were dropped. Lack of evidence can be a pain in the balls.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/23/p ... ey-player/
claver2010 {l Wrote}:bignick33 {l Wrote}:The worst of the charges against Trevino were dropped. Lack of evidence can be a pain in the balls.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/23/p ... ey-player/
Regardless it seems from all signs the kid has a serious problem
pick6pedro {l Wrote}:claver2010 {l Wrote}:bignick33 {l Wrote}:The worst of the charges against Trevino were dropped. Lack of evidence can be a pain in the balls.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/23/p ... ey-player/
Regardless it seems from all signs the kid has a serious problem
Jackie will be the first to tell ya that.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:pick6pedro {l Wrote}:claver2010 {l Wrote}:bignick33 {l Wrote}:The worst of the charges against Trevino were dropped. Lack of evidence can be a pain in the balls.
http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/03/23/p ... ey-player/
Regardless it seems from all signs the kid has a serious problem
Jackie will be the first to tell ya that.
Btw think it was you, on the jackie's packie shirt. Well done
claver2010 {l Wrote}:And this is where the article lost me. I agree with the headline, not so sure I agree with the reasoning. Sounds like another person that is just blanketing every athlete as hopped up entitled partiers that have never heard "No" in their lives. Extrapolating a couple of incidents to an entire population usually works out well.
Edit: And the argument that BU became somehow more intertwined with the pro culture because of the 2009 championship is retarded beyond belief. I can only assume that the author's calling for a change to that culture, which means either changing the basic rules that run the NHL or field a weak team.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:Well done BU, just when you can't sink any lower....
http://jezebel.com/5898425/heres-the-funny-sexual-assault-parody-boston-universitys-student-paper-doesnt-want-you-to-see
PhillyandBCEagles {l Wrote}:claver2010 {l Wrote}:And this is where the article lost me. I agree with the headline, not so sure I agree with the reasoning. Sounds like another person that is just blanketing every athlete as hopped up entitled partiers that have never heard "No" in their lives. Extrapolating a couple of incidents to an entire population usually works out well.
Edit: And the argument that BU became somehow more intertwined with the pro culture because of the 2009 championship is retarded beyond belief. I can only assume that the author's calling for a change to that culture, which means either changing the basic rules that run the NHL or field a weak team.
Agreed 110% not well written/reasoned.
I'll say this. There is a huge difference between the type of to be NHL players that BC gets and that BU gets. Just look at the All-Americans & 1st round draft picks that have been on the team in the past 5+ years. The vast vast majority are here for 3 years minimum. Down the street that just isn't the case.
claver2010 {l Wrote}:Well done BU, just when you can't sink any lower....
http://jezebel.com/5898425/heres-the-funny-sexual-assault-parody-boston-universitys-student-paper-doesnt-want-you-to-see
claver2010 {l Wrote}:Well done BU, just when you can't sink any lower....
http://jezebel.com/5898425/heres-the-funny-sexual-assault-parody-boston-universitys-student-paper-doesnt-want-you-to-see
TO: All Members of the Boston University Community
FROM: Jonathan Cole and Jean Morrison, Co-Chairs of the Men’s Ice
Hockey Task Force
DATE: April 9, 2012
SUBJECT: Men’s Ice Hockey Task Force – Call for Input
In March, President Brown established the Men’s Ice Hockey Task Force to assess the culture and climate of men's ice hockey at Boston University in the wake of charges of sexual assault against two members of the men’s ice hockey team (http://www.bu.edu/president/letters-...ers/2012/3-07/). The work of the Task Force is well under way. Our efforts are currently focused on gathering information and data that will enable us to assess whether the culture and climate of the hockey team are consistent with the values and mission of the University. As a reminder, our efforts are not directed at considering the guilt or innocence of the individuals who have been charged with sexual assault.
Gathering information from the Boston University community is an essential part of our efforts. Thus, we write to invite members of the BU community to provide relevant information, and to describe the ways in which to do so.
There are three different ways in which information may be provided to the Task Force. First, we will be hosting two Task Force Open Forums on campus. These are public meetings for members of the BU community to provide input to Task Force members. Members of the Task Force will be present at the Open Forums to listen to BU community input on issues that are relevant to the climate and culture of men's hockey.
The first Task Force Open Forum will take place on Wednesday, April 11th from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Sargent Auditorium, 635 Commonwealth Ave. The second will take place on Monday, April 23rd from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Kenmore Classroom Building, Room 101, at 565 Commonwealth Ave. These sessions will be moderated by Dean of Students Kenneth Elmore and will employ clearly defined guidelines for participation.
Second, we have established a Task Force website which has a portal to receive written comments: http://www.bu.edu/hockey-task-force/. Members of the BU community are welcome to offer comments, either anonymously or by identifying themselves. Further guidelines for submitting comments are provided on the web site.
Third, members of the community are welcome to write letters, either anonymously or by identifying themselves, and send them to the Task Force in the care of the two chairs (Jean Morrison and Jonathan Cole) at Office of the Provost, Boston University, One Silber Way, Eighth Floor, Boston, MA 02215.
Please note that input provided with attribution will be more useful than unattributed information. For example, because the Task Force may wish to explore a particular matter in more detail, we may seek additional information from individuals who have provided attributed input.
Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the privacy and confidentiality of those who submit comments or letters, and of other individuals who may be identified in such communications to the Task Force. Because any apparent violation of law and/or Boston University policy that may come to light must be addressed, complete confidentiality may not be possible.
The deadline for providing information either via the web portal or directly in writing is 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 15, 2012.
We look forward to hearing from members of our community.
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