Players on Western University's women's hockey team say they will boycott games and practices if the university doesn't reconsider its reinstatement of the team's embattled coach.
The team has sent a letter to university President Dr. Alan Shephard, asking him to reconsider the return of coach Candice Moxley. The coach was one of two subjects of an investigation that was launched after allegations of harassment were made by players. The other investigation subject, strength and conditioning coach Jeff Watson, was relieved of his duties this week.
The investigation was headed by London lawyer Elizabeth Hewitt. It found no evidence that Moxley had breached any of Western's non-discrimination and harassment policies. That led to Western's decision to allow Moxley to continue to coach the women's hockey team.
However, the players believe the investigation was not sufficient.
"We do not believe that the investigation was fair, unbiased, and transparent," the letter read. "Ms. Hewitt is a former board chair of Brescia University College and King's Universtiy College and was an adjunct professor at the University of Western Ontario in the Faculty of Law teaching Civil Procedure, and a faculty advisor to the University of Western Ontario's Niagara Moot Team - how can we trust that this investigation was unbiased? Why wasn't an independant investigator used?"
According to the players, Moxley put pressure on players to play though serious injuries, threatening to bench those that did not comply. They also say she gave a callous response when approached about the mental health of some players. The letter says the university "has shown blatant disregard for the health and well-being of traumatized students" by allowing Moxley to return.
The players are demanding another investigation that would be conducted by an independant firm with no ties to Western. They say it must be fully transparent.
The letter ended with a simple message for Dr. Shepard.
"Don't ignore us. Don't silence us," it said. "To quote our athletic motto, 'run with us,' Dr. Shepard."