SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Tracy Lee, a current student at Syracuse University, is suing the school, current and former students and several others after an alleged hazing incident with the ski team in January 2022.
The incident, alleged to have taken place at the former ski house at 211 Clarendon Street, occurred during ski week, which is described in the lawsuit filed Wednesday as a “University sponsored event that occurred one week prior to the commencement of the semester.”
The complaint, which has been obtained by NCC News, said “a component of ski week was the pledging/hazing of freshmen and new members” and argued the University should have known more about the events that were taking place.
According to the suit, on January 19, 2022, the ski team had a “scavenger hunt night,” in which members were locked out of the house. They were then required to consume a large quantity of beer by finishing a keg, despite the below-freezing temperatures outside.
The lawsuit says, while under the influence of alcohol around 1 a.m. that night, Lee was directed to climb on another member’s back. The other member, a minor who had been drinking, fell over with Lee on her back and caused injuries to Lee’s foot.
Lee says she suffered multiple injuries to her foot and the surrounding region, with several surgeries following, including “special surgery” and implanted screws. These were followed by months of extensive physical and emotional therapy, according to the suit.
The suit also said she now has permanent limitation of function of her foot and leg and emotional injury such as depression.
She is looking for reimbursement for medical costs among other compensation, with her attorney citing her “pain and suffering” and “loss of quality of life” in the complaint.
NCC News reached out to Syracuse University and is waiting to hear back.