Instead of being suspended for the entire academic year for hazing, the Towson University cheerleading squad was issued a modified punishment by its Student Appeals Committee, the university announced yesterday.
The national-championship-winning team will now be on social probation for the fall semester only and will not be allowed to participate in any university or off-campus events or make appearances as a squad. The Maryland team will be allowed to practice.
In addition to the probation, the cheerleaders must complete 650 hours of community service by the end of the fall semester and participate in educational sessions about hazing.
Documentation of the service requirement must be submitted by Jan. 17, 2014. New members of the team are not required to participate in community service, but the entire team will be required to participate in the educational sessions outlined in the original sanction.
The decision to modify the yearlong suspension came after the cheerleaders appealed to a committee made up of students, faculty and staff.
According to Deb Moriarty, Towson’s vice president for student affairs, the committee made the change because it believed the cheerleading team had not received the same level of anti-hazing education and training as other athletic programs on campus.
