New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said she will address hazing at universities during the state’s next legislative session. New Mexico is one of six states that does not have an anti-hazing law.
“I am appalled by the allegations at New Mexico public universities involving hazing and abuse – outrage doesn’t go far enough,” Grisham said in an April 28 press release. “It is the responsibility of higher education leadership and governing boards to establish a safe, healthy environment for students, and I’m incredibly disappointed that it does not appear to be a priority at some of the state’s public colleges and universities.”
Two former basketball players on the New Mexico State University men's basketball team filed a lawsuit against the school, their former coaches and three former teammates alleging they hazed and sexually assaulted them multiple times, according to KOAT 7 Action News.
Deuce Benjamin and Shak Odunewu held a press conference with their families and attorneys where they said they complained to coaches and other authorities, but nothing was done.
"First it hurts, then it changes you," Benjamin said while choking back tears during the press conference. "There's a part of me that hasn't been the same."
The men's basketball program was suspended once the hazing allegations became public and Greg Heiar was fired before he could complete his first season as the Aggies head coach, KOAT reported.
The hazing allegations came just two months after NMSU basketball player Mike Peake allegedly shot and killed University of New Mexico student Brandon Travis the night before the Aggies were to play the rival Lobos in Albuquerque, according to the Associated Press.
Three former women's basketball players at Eastern New Mexico University recently filed a federal civil rights lawsuit claiming they were sexually assaulted by a coach's husband, according to a KOB 4 report. The players claim they were forced by their former head coach, Meghan De Los Reyes, to attend one-on-one “treatments” with her husband, Glen De Los Reyes. Many of those “treatments” reportedly happened at the couple’s home. The lawsuit claims De Los Reyes fondled the players’ genitals, pinned them down, and left them with bruises.
The lawsuit also claims Meghan De Los Reyes, athletics director Paul Weir, and other university administrators knew about the alleged assault and did nothing to prevent further abuse.
Grisham said she has had enough, and it is time for action.
"I — along with my administration — have zero tolerance for abuse of any kind and I will root out cultures of hazing and abuse at every higher education institution in New Mexico,” Grisham said. “In the next legislative session, I will be putting anti-hazing and abuse legislation on the call, making it unequivocal in state law that hazing is a crime and those who do harm to others will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
