News Headline On Sports Teams Was Ill-Chosen

To the editors:



I was disappointed with the headline “Sports Teams Seek Improved Image” (news, May 11). This was an inaccurate representation of the meeting’s purpose; this meeting was not about improving the athletes’ “image.” It was an effort on my part to start what will hopefully be an ongoing discussion as to the challenges faced by Harvard athletic captains.

Our discussion was based on the following concept: the empowerment of captains to promote positive team culture, making changes to past traditions if necessary.

In the end, unanimous support was achieved for the following statement, provided in full:

Harvard Team Captains support their athletes through positive and healthy mentoring. As captains we strive to set a standard that our teammates can look up to. We work to promote improvement in character, academics, and athletics. Hazing undermines these goals.

Harvard Team Captains understand that new teammates deserve a positive environment in which they can succeed. New Harvard athletes do not sign on for hazing when they join a team.

We pledge to organize healthy and safe team building activities.

As athletes, we understand that we represent Harvard University and will do our utmost to behave thoughtfully and respectfully.

While the Crimson portrayed our meeting as an attempt to make amends for past events, I argue that the athletes involved are genuinely committed to ensuring that Harvard athletes of the future succeed both on and off the field.



CHARLES ALTCHEK ‘07

Cambridge, Mass.

May 13, 2007



The writer is former captain of Harvard Men’s Soccer.