UCO Officials To Hear Suspended Cheer Team Members' Appeal Following Reports Of Team Hazing

Members of the University of Central Oklahoma cheer team appealed the university's decision to suspend the program following hazing allegations. The allegations were investigated, and the details were uncovered in a new report.

Parents of UCO cheer team members requested a meeting with the university's president. On Wednesday, the meeting was denied, according to an email sent to a parent. However, school officials will hear and consider the students' appeal.

Reports of UCO cheer team hazing surfaced over the weekend. One parent told News 9 the allegations stem from a team bonding exercise from last August.

University President Patti Nuehold-Ravikumar recently issued a statement regarding the school’s response to the claims. In the statement, she noted "hazing of any kind has no place at the university and will not be tolerated."

School officials decided to suspend the cheer operations and activities immediately through the end of the school year. In addition, the team will not be allowed to participate in national competitions for two years.

UCO's media department released the school's official investigation report.

The report listed 10 hazing acts. The school determined some of the acts included team members were blindfolded, alcohol was provided to underage members, members were asked to answer questions that were sexual in nature and about their sexual preferences.

School officials said the investigation was not criminal in nature and campus police were not involved.

A member of the UCO cheer team posted on social media that she was at the team bonding event last summer. She called herself one of the "victims" but posted, "I do not feel as I or any of my teammates were hazed at any point during this event or anytime throughout the season."

In an email, UCO's president told parents their meeting was denied to protect against bias or conflict of interest related to the impending appeal and the school is not at liberty to discuss the details of the matter.