Fourteen upperclassmen of Clemson University’s women’s soccer team, three coaches and other officials in the school’s athletic department have been named in a lawsuit filed by a former player stemming from an alleged 2011 hazing incident, according to The Greenville Times website.
Haley Ellen Hunt, a freshman from Aiken, SC, at the time of the incident, alleges that on the night of Aug. 18, 2011, she was taken from her dorm room by members of the soccer team, forced into the trunk of a vehichle, and then forced to perform “humiliating and demeaning” acts, before running while blindfolded into a brick wall, according to the website.
The lawsuit (click for lawsuit document) was filed on Aug. 15, 2014 against head soccer coach Eddie Radwanski, two assistant coaches (Siri Mullinix and Jeff Robbins), former athletic director Terry Don Phillips (who retired in 2012), an assistant to the president of the university, 14 members of the team and 10 unnamed Clemson officials who were allegedly aware of the team’s hazing ritual.
University officials named in the lawsuit are being sued both individually and in their capacity as Clemson employees, according to The Times.
The lawsuit, which claims Hunt “suffered severe and permanent personal injuries including a traumatic brain injury,” was filed at Pickens County (S.C.) Courthouse. According to the suit, the hazing rituals are part of a long-standing team tradition aimed at freshmen players. It alleges the rituals were a mandatory team activity and were a long-standing tradition going back to the 1990s. While coaches were not present at the incident, the lawsuit alleges that they were aware of the activity and provided the upperclassmen players with keys to Riggs Stadium, where the hazing took place.
The website says the suit alleges that on the night of Aug. 18, 2011, after Hunt and other freshmen players were blindfolded, forced into the trunks of vehicles and driven to multiple locations, where they were forced to get out of the car to perform the “humiliating and demeaning” acts.
The 36-page lawsuit alleges that after Hunt was taken to Riggs Field, the home field of the Tigers’ soccer team, she was taken into a dark room, spun around until disoriented and then ordered to sprint down the field.
“Unaware of where she was running because of the blindfold, Hunt veeered away from the field and sprinted directly – face first – into a brick wall,” the lawsuit reads, according to The Times.
According to the lawsuit, Hunt was knocked unconscious and suffered head and facial injuries, cuts and bruises to her hands. Her teammates called an assistant coach, who contacted an athletic trainer who administered to Hunt. However, she was not immediately taken to a doctor, and the suit alleges that the assistant told the players not to tell anyone about the incident. She was seen by team doctors the next day.
Hunt, a high school honor student, claims the head injury left her with “decreased cognitive function,” headaches, damaged vision and trouble reading. Lawyers said that her vision was “permanently damaged. The lawsuit alleges team doctors cleared her to play, but an independent second opinion from a neurologist ended her soccer career.
The lawsuit says that Hunt, who was recruited on scholarship by the previous Clemson coach Hershey Strosberg, had her first contact with Radwanski when he called her shortly after becoming the Tigers’ head coach. Hunt claims Radwanski “told her not to come to Clemson, that he would not play her if she came to Clemson, and that if she decided to come Clemson, he would make her time at Clemson miserable.”
The lawsuit demands a jury trial and is seeking punative damages, attorney’s fees and court costs, along with other financial relief.
Twenty-four hours after the lawsuit was reported by the media, Clemson University has not made a public comment, but has referred inquiries to the university attorneys.