St. Olaf College cancels baseball season over hazing

NORTHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — St. Olaf College announced Friday that it is canceling the rest of its baseball season because of hazing.

St. Olaf said federal law and college policy limit its ability to discuss details but said an investigation found the misconduct “constitutes ridicule, harassment, and public displays of servitude under St. Olaf’s hazing policy.” The incidents also involved underage drinking, the school said in a statement.

The school in southern Minnesota said a formal investigation by the college and its independent counsel found that serious violations of St. Olaf’s hazing policy occurred both on and off campus during the weekend of Feb. 28.

“Violations were compounded by an orchestrated attempt to deceive college officials and the outside investigator and prevent them from learning what had happened,” the statement said.

In an email to the St. Olaf community, college President David Anderson said: “Hazing has no place at St. Olaf. Any form of hazing is reprehensible and inconsistent with our core values as an institution. Therefore, in the weeks and months ahead we will redouble our efforts to communicate the standards and values that should properly guide our co-curricular programs.”

The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference said St. Olaf has been removed from the schedule and standings for 2015. The MIAC will operate as a 10-team baseball conference for the rest of the season, and teams will receive a bye when they were scheduled to face St. Olaf.

The MIAC was scheduled to start conference play on Saturday.

Conference executive director Dan McKane said the MIAC is saddened by the events but commends St. Olaf’s administration for its “swift and decisive action.”

”Our primary concern is for anyone — especially student-athletes — who have been negatively impacted by the hazing uncovered by St. Olaf’s investigation,” McKane said.