A number of football players at Saint Mary’s University have been suspended after racist and sexist comments were posted on social media.
The university, which is known for its football program, said it received complaints about the tweets on Monday.
“That was a violation of their athletic code of conduct,” said Steve Proctor, the university's communications manager. “They’ve been suspended from the football team.”
Many students said they were disappointed to hear about the tweets, and are worried about how they reflect on the school, especially after the controversy surrounding a frosh week chant in September.
“A lot of people do look up to these figures and they represent the university,” said one SMU student.
“People just don’t understand. They don’t know who they’re offending these days,” said another.
Proctor said six of the nine tweets they’re investigating came from Twitter accounts of current football players, posted about a month after the university made national headlines for a sexist frosh chant.
“This is unfortunate, this is against all the principles we’re working with,” said Proctor. “It’s against the culture of the university, but it underscores this is a culture that needs to be changed.”
The players met with the university’s athletic director Tuesday afternoon. The SMU football organization refused to comment on the matter and school officials are saying little.
They do confirm ten players have been suspended from the football team for the rest of the year and that they could face further disciplinary action from the school, if warranted.
The scandal comes on the heels of the university’s frosh chant controversy. In September, a video surfaced showing students participating in a chant that appeared to glorify underage sex and rape.
As a result, a law professor from Dalhousie University wrote a report containing 20 recommendations on cultural changes to prevent sexual violence and inspire respectful behaviour at Saint Mary's University -- a report the school endorsed.
“Coaches have a very important role here to make it very clear what’s acceptable conduct and what’s not,” said Wayne MacKay.
Jonathan Williams of Students Nova Scotia said research suggests some athletes feel they are immune from campus rules.
“It has been observed across universities and it is something that needs to be addressed,” said Williams.
He also said it’s important student athletes serve as role models, pointing to football players at St. Francis Xavier University who took part in a photo campaign aimed at ending sexual violence against women.
“There was a recommendation in our review that universities ensure that all of their student athletes receive…sexual assault prevention training, training about having a culture where people are looking out for each other, where there’s a respect for consent,” said Williams.
SMU hasn’t said whether the players will receive any sensitivity training and it isn’t clear how the suspensions will affect athletic scholarships.
The university said it won’t be checking all social media accounts of every Saint Mary’s athlete, but further complaints will be investigated.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Suzette Belliveau and Kelland Sundahl
