September 7, 2012, 12:20 p.m.
The sobering and straightforward account of a task force assigned to examine the culture and climate of the Boston University’s men’s hockey program was revealed in a letter and report on Wednesday on the website of BU President Robert Brown.
"The Task Force concluded that the unique culture of men's ice hockey, played at the highest collegiate level, and the preeminent status of our team on campus contribute to a celebrity culture and an isolation of these athletes from the majority of our student body,” Brown said in the letter.
"I believe this situation is exacerbated in men's college hockey where professional teams frequently draft players before they enter college, an observation contained in the Task Force's report. This insular and elevated status can lead to unacceptable and destructive behavior, including a culture of sexual entitlement and abuse."
