Latest news with #SetonHall
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Former Seton Hall baseball player alleges violent hazing in lawsuit, says coach did nothing about it
A former Seton Hall University baseball player is suing the school, alleging a culture of violent hazing and a coach who he says turned a blind eye. The teenager spoke exclusively with CBS News New York's Jessica Moore to explain how the alleged abuse derailed his life. Read more: Students involved in alleged hazing of lacrosse players turn themselves in after DA threatens kidnapping charges Sadness, anger and frustration now consume the once happy 17-year-old college student, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation. He says he almost immediately found himself the victim of what he calls violent hazing. "The things I saw and dealt with on a daily basis ... it was sick, truly sickening," he said. "No kid should go through what's going on there and I was able to get out of there and hopefully save others in the future." The allegations The lawsuit he has filed details graphic allegations involving sexual acts, being put in a chokehold and forced to expose his genitals to get out of it, head shaving, and more. "When the hazing started, it was every day. I'd go in every day, and it was something new. The coach didn't do anything about it. I tried to tell him about it a couple of times and he just didn't put his foot down," the teen said. The lawsuit alleges head baseball coach Rob Sheppard was fully aware of the behavior and allowed it to continue. "My last day there, I went into his office and said the stuff going on in your locker room is some sick sick stuff. What's going on here on a daily basis isn't right," the 17-year-old said. When asked if the coach tried to ask him to stay at Seton Hall, the teen said, "No. In fact, he said how disappointed he was that I was leaving." The civil suit claims violations of New Jersey's anti-hazing law, negligence, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. "We're living in a time now where athletes are empowered to speak up, and these sort of things are not tolerated anymore by athletes and they're speaking up. It's a sign of the times," said Mark Shirian, the plaintiff's attorney. Seton Hall's response to the allegations A spokesperson for the school told CBS News New York, "Seton Hall is firmly committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. Upon learning of certain allegations earlier this year, the university promptly retained a nationally respected third-party investigator to conduct an independent and thorough review." CBS News New York reached out to Sheppard for comment. Seton Hall said that he doesn't have an additional statement at this time and that their statement serves as the response for both of them. The teen transferred from Seton Hall to an NCAA Division III school after only one month, losing a year of playing eligibility, but he said he saved himself from the alleged abuse. "Looking back on it, I was lucky to get out of there and, hopefully, I can get back to my dreams," the 17-year-old said. His goal of playing professional baseball is still very much alive, and he's hoping his lawsuit prevents another aspiring athlete from having to detour their dreams.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Ex-Seton Hall baseball player blows whistle on program's 'sexual hazing rituals and toxic culture' in lawsuit
Allegations of violent nude wrestling, masturbation rituals, coerced sexual exposure and even physical assault have been detailed by a former Seton Hall baseball player against the program in a hazing lawsuit obtained by Daily Mail. Filed in a Long Island federal court by a former pitcher identified as 'John Doe,' the lawsuit accuses head coach Rob Sheppard and the New Jersey catholic college of ignoring complaints and failing to 'investigate or discipline the perpetrators, allowing the toxic culture to persist.' Doe ultimately transferred to a lower-level Division IIII school, costing him 'a season of eligibility and… diminishing his visibility and professional baseball prospects,' according to his filing. 'What's going on in the locker room is some sick, sick stuff,' Doe told the New York Post. 'There's gotta be some accountability taken by the coach. He's gotta lay his foot down and take control of that whole situation and try to make things a lot better.' Daily Mail has reached out for comment from both Sheppard and several school spokespeople. An attorney for Sheppard was not named on the federal court website. A school spokesperson did provide a statement to Daily Mail. 'Seton Hall is firmly committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment,' the school statement began. 'Upon learning of certain allegations earlier this year, the University promptly retained a nationally respected third-party investigator to conduct an independent and thorough review. As litigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time.' In addition to Seton Hall and Sheppard, there are three individuals are also named as defendants, although they're only identified by their initials in the complaint. One of those defendants, identified as J.D., is accused of demanding Doe expose his genitals to the team by allegedly saying: 'We've got to see what you've got down there.' The plaintiff claimed in the filing that in September of 2024, he arrived in the team locker room to find his name listed alongside defendant A.S. on the whiteboard in anticipation of a wrestling match. Teammates cleared the locker room, where the 17-year-old Doe was dragged across the floor and later body slammed before being placed in a chokehold, according to the lawsuit. Doe claims he spat blood and sustained suffered scars on his knees and elbows as a result of the wrestling match. The plaintiff's father called Sheppard to report the hazing allegations and the coach reportedly promised to address the issue while maintaining the player's anonymity. But according to the lawsuit, 'Seton Hall and Defendant Sheppard failed to investigate the complaint, discipline perpetrators, or implement corrective measures, allowing the hazing to continue unabated.' What's more, the plaintiff was labelled a 'rat' in the team's group chat. One individual identified as J.T. accused the plaintiff of reporting the incident to Sheppard. Doe claims he decided to transfer after being called a 'pussy' by teammates for refusing to take part in the 'Lotus' ritual, which involved masturbating in front of teammates, according to the filing. The plaintiff is seeking a judgement worth more than $1 million as well as a requirement for Seton Hall to 'implement comprehensive anti-hazing training and enforcement protocols for all athletic programs.' The Pirates are 24-30 under Sheppard on the season, which is more or less the usual for the middling Big East program. Former Seton Hall players include ex-Red Sox star John Valentine as well as his teammate in Boston, 1995 American League MVP Mo Vaughn, as well as former Houston Astros star Craig Biggio.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Health
- Fox News
Former Seton Hall pitcher details sexual hazing, blood injuries and says coach failed to act
Print Close By Ryan Morik Published May 29, 2025 A lawsuit claims that a former Seton Hall pitcher was the subject of hazing by his teammates, including gross sexual acts. The former pitcher, whose name has not been publicly identified, said he was "spitting blood everywhere" during one incident, and the hazing dashed his dream of making the big leagues. The lawsuit claims that nude and violent wrestling, as well as a masturbation ritual, are just some of the hazing incidents. CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON The player in the lawsuit claims he was forced to show his genitals to other players, and he was called a "p---y" when he did not oblige. "What's going on in the locker room is some sick, sick stuff," the player told the New York Post. The suit alleges that head coach Rob Sheppard and the school had ignored complaints and "failed to investigate or discipline the perpetrators, allowing the toxic culture to persist." "There's gotta be some accountability taken by the coach," the player said. "He's gotta lay his foot down and take control of that whole situation and try to make things a lot better." The player eventually quit the team, and left the school, before even playing a game. "It was a dark time for me — I was sad, depressed," he said. "I was down in the dumps every day." BAYLOR FOOTBALL PLAYER ALEX FOSTER, 18, DIES AFTER SUFFERING MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS The suit claims that the player's move to a Division III school "cost him a season of eligibility and… diminishing his visibility and professional baseball prospects." "To spend my whole life trying to get to that point, and I finally got there, and then had this all happen, and it's just derailed my whole career," the player said. The university sent the following statement to Fox News Digital: "Seton Hall is firmly committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. Upon learning of certain allegations earlier this year, the University promptly retained a nationally respected third-party investigator to conduct an independent and thorough review. As litigation is ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Mo Vaughn, Craig Biggio, Rick Cerone and Jason Grilli all attended the university. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter. Print Close URL
National Post
5 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Teen baseball star alleges hazing, forced sex acts at prestigious U.S. college: 'Spitting blood everywhere'
An NCAA baseball stars alleges that he was brutally beaten and forced into 'sick' hazing rituals at a renowned U.S. college. Article content Article content As a 17-year-old rookie pitcher at Seton Hall, the player alleges that he was choked, dragged and body slammed during a hazing ritual while teammates watched, according to a bombshell report by the New York Post. Article content The teen, whose name was withheld by the outlet, says that he was left 'spitting blood' after one alleged incident that involved him being forced into a makeshift wrestling ring and battling with an older and much larger player. Article content 'What's going on in the locker room is some sick, sick stuff,' the former student said. Article content 'I was spitting blood everywhere,' he added. 'It was a feeling that I'm really never gonna forget.' Article content The teen, who was recruited by the school for his 91-mph fastball, also alleged that he was subjected to a team masturbation ritual and other humiliating hazing incidents, according to a federal lawsuit filed earlier this week. Article content Article content The suit also claims that head coach Rob Sheppard looked the other way regarding the hazing incidents, alleging that he and the school 'failed to investigate or discipline the perpetrators, allowing the toxic culture to persist.' Article content The player, now 18, told the Post that talk of hazing began at the first team meeting and escalated within days. Article content The lawsuit states that just days after joining the team, a sophomore said in the locker room that the player had to show everyone his genitals. Article content 'We've got to see what you've got down there,' the older player allegedly said. Article content 'The locker room erupted in laughter,' the suit says, while one player commented 'whoa, you've got some balls down there,' after the teen complied. Article content Article content Further alleged hazing incidents included a masturbation exhibition called 'Lotus' and a nude wrestling match dubbed 'Kangs.' Article content After hearing about the latter, the player met with coach Sheppard to 'tell him I was done,' he said. Article content 'Sheppard expressed disappointment,' according to his suit, 'but took no meaningful action to address the issues.' Article content After the meeting, the player was called a 'rat' and insulted in the team's groupchat despite the coach promising confidentiality. Article content The player left the school shortly after, barely two months into the school year. Article content Sheppard is accused of ignoring complaints of violent and sexually disturbing hazing in the lawsuit. He did not immediately return a request for comment from The Post. Article content
Politico
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Seton Hall defies cardinal's order in sexual abuse investigation
Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark promised a thorough investigation into clergy abuse at Seton Hall University, but the school blocked a key witness from participating. | Gregorio Borgia)/AP Cardinal Joseph Tobin of New Jersey left for Vatican City earlier this month to help select the next pope — a rare moment on the global stage for one of the most powerful Catholic leaders in the United States. Back home, Seton Hall University — the oldest Catholic diocesan university in America, where Tobin personally oversees both governing boards — was preparing to defy him. A day after the new pontiff was chosen on May 8, attorneys for the university blocked a key witness from participating in a clergy abuse investigation Tobin had ordered, according to a court filing. That inquiry centers on whether Seton Hall's new president, Monsignor Joseph Reilly, was installed despite past mishandling of abuse allegations. Now Tobin's own archdiocese is trying to regain control. The moves expose a conflict at the highest levels of Catholic education — pitting Tobin against the university he oversees — and threatens to unravel his public promises of transparency with the school's ' full cooperation.' Joseph Nyre, the university's former president, had been scheduled to speak with investigators until Seton Hall intervened. In his first public comments since leaving the presidency, Nyre said in a statement: 'Either the Cardinal has been overruled by his own board, including the bishops who sit on it, or the openness he promised is being applied only when convenient. The public deserves to know which it is.' Seton Hall did not respond to a message seeking comment. Tobin, the archbishop of Newark, ordered a comprehensive investigation into clergy abuse in February, several weeks after POLITICO reported that Reilly was found in a 2019 inquiry to have not properly reported abuse allegations years prior as a seminary leader. That earlier investigation came in response to sexual abuse claims against former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the longtime archbishop of Newark and Washington, D.C. It found decades of sexual harassment and a 'culture of fear and intimidation' under McCarrick, according to a summary published by the university. McCarrick died last month at age 94. Reilly, who once served as a secretary to McCarrick, was not accused of abuse himself. But an action plan adopted by the university recommended he be removed from school boards and not hold leadership positions there. He took a year-long sabbatical and, after Nyre's departure, became university president last year with unanimous support of the school's Board of Regents and Tobin, who called Reilly 'the right person at the right time for Seton Hall.' 'Mind-boggling and outrageous' In February, Tobin hired the law firm Ropes & Gray to essentially investigate the investigation, and to review the action plan the university adopted as a result. Tobin said his inquiry would examine how the findings related to Reilly and 'whether they were communicated to any and all appropriate personnel at the Archdiocese and Seton Hall University.' Nyre was president of the university when the 2019 investigation by lawyers at Latham & Watkins concluded and its findings were delivered to university leaders through another law firm, Gibbons P.C. Nyre left the presidency in 2023 and filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university last year, claiming a series of retaliatory measures against him. In a statement after filing an amended complaint this month in state Superior Court, an attorney said Nyre 'formally and confidentially disclosed to University officials that Monsignor Reilly had previously been found ineligible due to serious Title IX failures — yet Seton Hall retaliated instead of investigating,' referring to the federal law against sex-based discrimination and harassment. Nyre had been scheduled to speak with Ropes & Gray on May 9. But a lawyer for Seton Hall, Tom Scrivo, said in a letter to Nyre's attorneys that 'contractual obligations' blocked Nyre from sharing any confidential information he may have as a result of his employment as president. 'There is no exception to that broad prohibition that would permit Dr. Nyre to answer any questions at an interview regarding any matter within the scope of the Ropes review,' Scrivo wrote. He added that an April 4 court order in the ongoing litigation between Nyre and Seton Hall was 'unambiguous' that Nyre cannot share confidential information with Ropes & Gray. That still defies the intent of the investigation to one lawmaker who has publicly pressured Seton Hall for more accountability. 'Cardinal Tobin said when announcing this investigation that it would be thorough and transparent,' said New Jersey state Sen. Andrew Zwicker, a Democrat who serves as vice-chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. 'And it is clear that they are doing the opposite in trying to stop former president Nyre from providing his input into the ongoing investigation. It is just mind-boggling and outrageous.' One of Nyre's attorneys said Seton Hall is 'clearly attempting to weaponize' that court order to 'muzzle' his client. 'This position is not only at odds with the plain language of the April 4 Order,' the lawyer, Austin Tobin, said in a letter to the judge seeking a status conference on the matter. '... but also very odd considering the fact that the Archdiocese of Newark is conducting the interview at issue on behalf of the University.' Now the archdiocese is 'working diligently' with the university to ensure investigators have 'access to all relevant information as soon as possible,' a spokesperson for the cardinal said. When Cardinal Tobin announced the investigation, 'he fully expected that Ropes & Gray would have the full cooperation of the Board of Regents and Seton Hall University on matters relating solely to Monsignor Reilly,' the spokesperson, Maria Margiotta, said in a statement Tuesday. 'Unfortunately, ongoing litigation involving Seton Hall, to which the Archdiocese is not a party, has created impediments to this review,' Margiotta said. 'Cardinal Tobin stands by his earlier statement that there should be no restrictions on Ropes & Gray's effort to access all relevant information and witnesses,' she added. Ignored calls to release past investigation New Jersey's political leaders have been pushing for more transparency from Seton Hall for months. Three state lawmakers, Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democratic candidate for governor whose congressional district includes Seton Hall, have called for the university to release the 2019 report. The university has ignored those calls, citing attorney-client privilege. But a judge in a separate clergy abuse case has ordered the university to provide the report. The university fought that, too. But the judge, Avion Benjamin, found in March that Seton Hall violated a past court order for discovery by not disclosing the 2019 report, and said the school had to turn it over to her. Blocking Nyre from speaking with investigators fits a pattern of trying to keep clergy abuse from public view, said Mark Crawford, New Jersey director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. 'It's not surprising but it's outrageous,' Crawford said. 'They don't want the truth to come out. It's abundantly clear or you wouldn't be suppressing the former president who was there, who would know, from speaking his truth.'
