Harvard-Westlake water polo intercourse assault scandal embrace allegations of antisemitism

The Harvard-Westlake water polo participant who was accused of racism and sexual assault by a star teammate allegedly instructed a Jewish peer to “die in an oven,” in accordance with beautiful new courtroom paperwork.

The star teammate, Aidan Romain, revised his lawsuit Thursday towards the alleged bigot, Lucca van der Woude, to incorporate the surprising new allegations.

He claimed that an unnamed witness instructed his lawyer, Daniel Watkins, that Van der Woude “had a historical past of constructing antisemitic remarks whereas interacting with friends on-line and in particular person” and that he “referred to a Jewish peer utilizing antisemitic slurs and said phrases to the impact of: ‘You silly Jew, die within the oven.’”

The revised go well with additionally dives into different damning allegations towards Van der Woude.

The identical unidentified witness, later recognized as mom Hilary Ketchum by Vainness Truthful, mentioned the disgraced polo participant “often glorified sexual violence towards girls, made repeated feedback referencing rape, commonly used racial slurs, and made offensive feedback regarding slavery and racial domination.” 

Van der Woude “expressed racist, antisemitic, and white-nationalist beliefs in the course of the interval through which he sexually and bodily abused Plaintiff and different college students,” in accordance with Vainness Truthful.

Watkins believed the lawsuit wanted to be revised due to the similarities between white nationalism and sexual violence.  

“White nationalism and sexual violence come from the identical perception: that some individuals exist to be dominated by others. That’s what makes these accounts so troubling,” he mentioned.

Different allegations element how Van der Woude and a teammate whipped Romain with a rope within the college weight room “as if he had been a slave” whereas telling him to “get again to work.”

There’s additionally accusations that Van der Woude, whereas taking part in Minecraft with Ketchum’s son in 2020, used the N-word, made antisemitic remarks, and was heard  “making jokes about girls and rape.”

Ketchum and a special dad or mum later requested a Zoom assembly to debate “slurs that none of us need our children to be listening to, not to mention saying.” A lady with the identify of “Nilda Van Der Woude,” the identify of Van der Woude’s mom, thanked them for the assembly.

“Thanks for organizing this. It’s a fantastic concept and far wanted. We’ll attend,” she mentioned.

Ketchum mentioned she mentioned the Holocaust, white privilege, and sexism together with warning the boys that they’d not be allowed to play Minecraft collectively in the event that they continued saying the slurs.

Van der Woude allegedly didn’t heed the recommendation, and went tougher with the slurs.

“[Van der Woude] went not good again at it, however worse,” she mentioned. “He simply stored doing it, and he was laughing, and [the kids] all simply stopped taking part in with him.”

The accused water polo participant denies all the accusations.

“Lucca van der Woude categorically and unequivocally denies each allegation made towards him,” Van der Woude’s lawyer Keith G. Bremer mentioned in a press release to Vainness Truthful. “These claims are false. Lucca has carried out himself with integrity all through his tutorial and athletic profession, and he is not going to enable false accusations to outline him now and/or sooner or later.”

The brand new accusations associate with the allegations that Van der Woude sexually assaulted Romain.

Romain mentioned in a single occasion that whereas he was eggbeating water, he felt somebody seize his buttocks and insert a finger. He appeared again and noticed Van der Woude.

“I used to be like, ‘Why did you try this? What are you doing?’” Aidan mentioned. “He simply laughed.”

He additionally Van der Woude “always dehumanized” him and used the slur commonly.

“They weren’t attempting to cover it,” Aidan mentioned. “When the lights would flip off, they’d say, ‘The place’s Aidan?’ or ‘The place’s arbitrary black particular person?’”

He described the ambiance as relentless and overtly racist. “It was simply straight, blatant racism,” he mentioned.

The elite Harvard-Westlake college has downplayed allegations that the college allowed the conduct to occur.

“Lots of you might have possible seen latest newspaper and journal articles describing a lawsuit,” the college’s president mentioned in a latest e-mail to folks, in accordance with Vainness Truthful.

“As a result of this pertains to a pending authorized matter, we’re restricted in what we will say, however we need to be clear concerning the following: the college unequivocally disputes many of those allegations that mischaracterize details and the college’s actions.

“The college handled studies of inappropriate habits within the water polo program with urgency and seriousness, promptly initiating an investigation and complying with its necessary reporting obligations. The college additionally cooperated fully with legislation enforcement.”

“No matter you may learn or hear,” the e-mail continued, “I ask that you just place it within the context of what you already learn about our faculty and your youngster’s expertise. I ask that you just measure these allegations towards your individual expertise of this group and the values that information our work.”

Harvard-Westlake, together with Van der Woude, have filed motions in courtroom difficult points of Romain’s lawsuit. The college say their president, Rick Commons, was not instructed Romain was affected by racial abuse, discrimination, and sexual assault, and subsequently is just not accountable. 

Van der Woude has moved to strike dozens of the allegations, arguing they had been based mostly on confidential juvenile courtroom or instructional information.

---

Obtain The California Publish App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters