Boston University to investigate hockey team culture after sex charges against players Nicastro and Trivino
Boston University is launching an investigation of the campus culture around its ice hockey team in the wake of two players’ recent arrests on charges of sexual assault.
Nicastro at Brighton District Court on Tuesday (Mark Garfinklel/AP/Pool)AP
Earlier this week, junior Max Nicastro pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape in an incident that allegedly occurred on campus. In December, senior Corey Trivino — then the team’s leading scorer — pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault after he was accused of repeatedly barging into a resident advisor’s room, trying to kiss and grope her, and refusing to leave.
In both cases, the school turned over the investigations to the Boston police and the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. But it also kicked both students off the hockey team, and neither continues to attend the school.
In a letter to the campus community today, President Robert Brown said the university is forming a task force in response to the incidents. Although the task force will not weigh in on the two students’ guilt or innocence, it will examine whether the adulatory culture around the ice hockey team in some way makes its players more likely to violate both campus behavioral standards and the law.
“These charges, if ultimately substantiated, involve reprehensible acts,’’ said Brown’s letter. “The charges in these cases understandably lead to questions about whether the hockey team’s culture and climate have contributed in some way to the actions of the two individuals. The University must address these questions and, if deficiencies are identified, make appropriate and necessary changes.’’
The BU ice hockey team is nationally ranked, and its players are stars on campus. The student newspaper regularly reports on apparent incidents of bad behavior, and a profane video about chasing women, made by players, has popped up on YouTube.
Brown’s letter said the task force was formed because of “a University-level judgment that the two incidents indicate something systemic or habitual may foster a team climate that does not comport with the highest standards of conduct we seek to maintain for all members of our community.’’
Jack Parker, BU’s ice hockey coach since 1973, said in a previous interview with the Globe that he hoped the two arrests were a “horrible coincidence’’ — but that if the team culture had in some way contributed, “we’ll change it.’’
The new task force will include representatives from the faculty and staff, as well as from the university’s boards of trustees and overseers. It will begin its examination in a few weeks and is expected to submit a report over the summer, with any recommendations to be implemented by the start of next academic year.
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