Seen a Rogue on the loose? Get in touch with our Roguemeister: JOHN SCHRAG jschrag@wweek.com (503) 243-2122 FAX: (503) 243-1115 When Judith Ramaley left her job as president of Portland State in 1997 to take the top job at the University of Vermont, a lot of people mourned PSU's loss. But based on a scathing report issued earlier this month by Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, we may want to count our blessings. The story began last October, when an attorney for a freshman UVM hockey player named Corey Latulippe contacted Ramaley's office about the alleged hazing of Latulippe and other freshmen. The incidents described included forced vomiting, naked pushups over beer cups, and an "elephant walk" in which naked pucksters lined up, grabbed the genitals of the player in front and paraded about. Unhappy with the university's response, Latulippe's attorney sued the University of Vermont and Ramaley in December. At the university's request, the AG opened an investigation and quickly determined that Latulippe was about the only one telling the truth. The university's handling of the allegations, according to the AG, "was insufficiently thorough to ascertain the truth and, as designed or conducted, served primarily to buttress the university's position in the event of the filing of a civil lawsuit." In other words, it was a whitewash. "After having determined that hazing had in fact occurred, UVM officials made confusing statements about certain matters and acquiesced for an unreasonable period of time in [UVM hockey] Coach Gilligan's public statements denying that hazing had taken place," the report says. Ramaley's roguish conduct merited special notation. First, investigators say, she failed to correct false statements made by Coach Gilligan, and second, she mischaracterized Latulippe's lawsuit. "In retrospect," Ramaley said on Dec. 21, "it has become clear to me that my comments were poorly worded." On Jan. 14, Ramaley canceled the remainder of UVM's hockey season, but she has allowed the players to retain their scholarships and continue to practice. For the full Attorney General's report, go to www.state.vt.us/atg. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Willamette Week | originally published February 23, 2000