The University of Ottawa (U of O)’s response following sexual assault complaints involving its hockey team did not come lightly.
Amidst an internal review and ongoing police investigations, the university took firm action, suspending its entire men’s hockey team March 3.
U of O has said little since the suspension—besides announcing a task force on sexual violence—so as not to interfere with the investigations. But by taking such a drastic measure, the university has created more questions than answers.
At this point, it may not be known to police or U of O precisely what occurred the weekend of Feb. 1 when the alleged incident occurred in Thunder Bay, where the hockey team was playing a game.
But whatever information the university does have was presumably sufficient grounds to suspend 26 players and coaches—a rarity in university athletics, and the greater sports world, by all accounts.
By not clarifying this decision, those who are innocent may be implicated in an incident they were not a part of, simply by being a member of the Gee-Gees men’s hockey team this season.
Whether the university has reason to believe the vast majority of the team was involved in the alleged incident, or whether the team-wide suspension is simply to protect individuals from public scrutiny before being proven guilty, the public needs a better explanation.
Until then, U of O has left the public to wonder—and speculate—about the implications of the sudden ban.
