Hazing Update: My Alma Mater [J. Mark English]

I had the great fortune of attending Catholic University of America. Our little known enclave near some of the most seedy spots in Washington, D.C. best sports moment came in 2001 when the CUA basketball team won the NCAA Division III National Championship.

The team just barely made headlines after that occured. This might change now due to the female lacrosse team.

Catholic University along with Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn...."are investigating sports teams after photographs allegedly depicting student-athletes taking part in initiation parties were posted on a Web site..." according to ESPN.

ESPN goes on to say:

The Web site www.badjocks.com on Wednesday posted those pictures and others, allegedly of athletic teams at 12 colleges and universities, showing hazing or initiation rituals from 2003 to 2006. It labeled them the "Dirty Dozen."

Catholic is investigating its women's lacrosse program after photos were posted on the Internet allegedly showing a male stripper at a freshman initiation party. And Quinnipiac is looking into photos allegedly taken during an "initiation party" for members of the school's baseball team depicting men dancing around in underwear and adult diapers and spraying whipped cream on a woman who is lying on the floor.

"If the evidence demonstrates that any of our current students willingly participated in these activities, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken," Catholic athletic director Michael Allen said in a statement.

Allen said that neither he nor coach Kristine Manning was aware of the party until Wednesday morning. He said an investigation began immediately.

"The president and I will meet with all the coaches at the university to discuss additional measures and policies that we can implement to ensure that in the future this kind of deplorable situation does not occur with any of the students at The Catholic University of America," the statement said.

The photos were posted on a Web site under the heading "Catholic University Women's Lacrosse Initiation Party 2006." The site doesn't say when or where the party was held.