The men’s lightweight rowing team’s temporary suspension, announced 34 days ago, has been lifted with a “phased return,” announced by Cornell Athletics Director Nicki Moore in a Tuesday email to the Cornell rowing community.
The team’s suspension was issued after the University became aware of an “incident,” according to an email Moore sent to the team in February. The email also stated that the Office of Civil Rights, which addresses issues involving bias, sexual misconduct, discrimination and protected-status harassment, would be issuing a “Care and Concern communication” to the team to encourage reporting of conduct not aligned with the University’s standards.
In the Tuesday email, Moore explained that under “close collaboration” with head coach Tyler Nase, the phased return was established.
“During this time, we worked continuously and thoroughly, receiving and assessing information, and determining the appropriate path forward, in consultation with university partners. We found multiple instances in which behavior failed to meet expected standards,” the email read.
Coach Nase did not immediately respond to The Sun’s request for comment about the situation.
According to Moore, the phased return will allow “most members of the team” to resume training sessions “immediately after completing initial, reasonable steps needed to lay the foundation for meaningful culture rebuilding.” She also noted that the team is expected to return to competition in April, under a three-year probationary period.
The Sun previously reported that the team’s next meet was the National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational, scheduled for March 28 in Overpeck County Park, New Jersey. Historically, this meet has served as a season-opener for the top rowing programs in the country. The team participated in the regatta last year.
The National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational has since been removed from the team’s posted schedule. Several Ivy League teams, including Columbia, Yale, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth and Princeton have the National Collegiate Lightweight Invitational listed on their respective schedules.
The University did not immediately respond to The Sun’s request for comment about the situation or the removal of the competition from the schedule.
“Amongst a set of more punitive alternatives, we believe this structured, accountable path will allow the program to continue this spring while ensuring meaningful learning, improved culture, and the long‑term protection of the team and its members,” Moore wrote in her email to the Cornell rowing community.
The team’s next event is scheduled for April 4, the Matthews/Leonard Cup, which the Red will host with UPenn and Harvard in attendance.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She was a features editor and assistant sports editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
