Harvard men’s soccer team apologizes for sexual comments

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) - The Harvard men’s soccer team has apologized for sexual comments made about members of the women’s soccer team that led the Ivy League school to suspend the men’s team for the rest of the season.

The apology was posted Friday on the website of The Harvard Crimson student newspaper. Team members said their behavior was inexcusable and no woman deserves to be treated in that manner.

The newspaper last month uncovered a 2012 document that rated the attractiveness of women’s team recruits and included lewd comments about them. The men’s team called the document its “scouting report” and circulated it online.

A university investigation into the 2012 men’s team found the comments were not isolated and continued through the current season. The team, which was in first place in the Ivy League, was suspended Thursday and will forfeit all remaining games.

“We sincerely apologize for the harm our words and actions have caused women everywhere, and especially our close friends on the women’s soccer team,” the apology said.

“We are deeply ashamed that it took a public revelation, a loss of trust and damaged friendships for us to fully grasp the gravity of our conduct, for which each member of our team takes full and equal responsibility,” it said. “No woman deserves to be treated in this manner; not our mothers, our sisters, nor our peers. We apologize to them, and to all those who trusted us, supported us and believed in us.”

Harvard President Drew Faust, men’s soccer coach Pieter Lehrer and women’s soccer coach Chris Hamblin called the men’s team’s actions unacceptable, disrespectful and shocking.

Players on the men’s team said they will do anything possible to heal the pain they have caused.

“To do so, we must first confront the issues of sexism and misogyny within our own locker room, so that we can take up the call issued by the women of the Harvard Women’s Soccer Class of 2016 to join them in combatting this sort of behavior,” the apology said. “Starting with ourselves, all players on this team now commit our efforts to spur a cultural change that goes beyond the scope of our own team.”