Does a student’s athletic ability nullify a sexual assault allegation against them? The men’s basketball team at Yale University seem to think so.
The Yale Bulldogs basketball team captain, Jack Montague, has been expelled from the University due to a sexual assault allegation. Although there is no active criminal investigation against him, he was not played since Feb. 6 in Yale’s 83-52 win over Cornell University.
Despite the news circulating campus, the basketball team organized a public display of support for Montague by wearing his jersey number, 4, and his name on their warm-up jerseys before a nationally televised game. At several points during the game, players gestured the number four as a continuous show of support. They have since apologized.
Back on campus, 450 student and faculty members had their own public display of support for the survivors of sexual assault. Messages in chalk were left in front of Yale’s largest library, discussing men’s athletic privilege and how Montague’s teammates were willing to look past such a claim. “Imagine if Yale men cared as much about ending rape culture as they care about sports. Be an ally,” said one comment in chalk according to The New York Times.
One thing many students can agree on is that the university is not offering enough details on the case. Yale’s confidentiality clause makes any findings, including rape cases, inaccessible to the public. All details remain with the accused student and Yale.
“The university does not make distinctions in treating as confidential the different circumstances under which a student may be withdrawn from Yale,” the university said.
Montague’s father stands firmly in the belief that his son’s expulsion was uncalled for. He has been declining comment but is attempting to clear his son’s name in the future. “Soon enough, I’d love to tell the other side of the story. It’s ridiculous why he’s expelled,” Jim Montague said to the New Haven Register, according to ESPN.
The Bulldogs have managed to clench an Ivy League Title and advanced to the NCAA tournament, all without their fourth-leading scorer. Montague will not be returning to the school.
No person, regardless of their athletic ability or talent, should be excused from their actions, especially rape. Being an athlete does not make anyone invincible from the consequences of doing so.