Former hockey players from the University of Michigan have filed a lawsuit, alleging they were sexually abused by teammates decades ago. The lawsuit, brought by 16 men who played at the university between 1984 and 2001, claims that their coach and other staff knew about and failed to stop sexual hazing, which included forced genital shaving and other forms of abuse. The case came to light after conversations among former teammates in 2024, leading them to seek legal action. The university called the allegations "disturbing" but denied any responsibility, stating that any misconduct by former athletes would have violated its policies. According to the lawsuit, the abuse was not only tolerated but possibly encouraged by those in authority. The plaintiffs allege that Red Berenson, who coached the team from 1984 to 2017, was aware of the abuse but did not take action. Berenson, who is now 86, ended "freshman hazing" in 2012, which involved forcing first-year players to perform menial tasks, but he did not address physical abuse. At the time, he acknowledged that some team captains "got too carried away" but did not elaborate further. Berenson has not yet commented on the lawsuit, saying he needs time to process the situation. The University of Michigan has faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct in recent years. In 2022, it reached a $490 million settlement with over 1,000 individuals who claimed they were sexually assaulted by a sports doctor who worked at the university for nearly 40 years. This latest lawsuit adds to the ongoing scrutiny of the university's handling of such issues. The institution emphasized its history of anti-hazing policies, noting it was one of the first universities in the country to adopt such measures in 1982. The case has sparked discussions about the long-term impact of hazing and the responsibility of institutions to protect students. While the university has taken steps to address misconduct, the allegations in this lawsuit suggest that past failures may have left lasting harm on individuals. As the legal process unfolds, the university and its former athletes will be under closer examination for how they handled these serious claims.