A task force established by the university president has found that the hockey team of Boston University has a culture of 'sexual entitlement.'
The report by the task force says that a 'celebrity culture' exists among Boston University men's hockey players, one that can lead to 'unacceptable and destructive behavior,' according to the report released Wednesday.
The men's hockey team of Boston-U, which has won five national championships, has garnered substantial national recognition and is often among the top university ice hockey programs in the nation.
The report says this elevation in social status may be the reason behind the culture.
"On one level, what our work found is something that is common at any big school or college or university that has elite athletic programs and that is that there is a subset of the population for whom the athletes are considered stars and receive adulation and special treatment," provost Jean Morrison said.
"This culture of sexual entitlement, as evidenced by frequent sexual encounters with women absent an emotional relationship or on-going commitment, can also involve unprotected sex," the report said.
"The absence of systematic processes for sexual assault prevention training for members of the men's ice hockey team, and for BU students more broadly, contributes to behaviors that place many University students at risk," said the report.
The report concluded that such a 'sexual entitlement' culture exists and suggested that 'there were areas where university oversight should be better.'
It has found no evidence of major NCAA violations.
Boston University president Robert A. Brown assigned the task force in March this year, to 'review the culture and climate of the Boston University men's hockey program and to provide a thoughtful and impartial assessment.'
The task force was initiated in the wake of sexual assault charges being brought against two members of the men's ice hockey team within a three-month period. One player reportedly pleaded guilty to reduced charges while criminal charges were dropped against the other.
The university said these charges raised serious questions about whether the culture and climate of the ice hockey program contributed in some way to the alleged actions of the two individuals.
Now, with the report asserting the same, the university has an obligation toward its students and community.
The 14 recommendations in the report include, establishing a care and counseling center for sexual assault and sexual harassment, and sexual assault prevention training for hockey players, among others.
Last week, the university established a Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center after multiple sexual assaults, hazing and peeping Tom incidents occurred for the year 2011-2012 academic year and the student newspaper made light of rape in its April Fools' edition, Washington Post reports.
