Alamogordo NM
12-23-2024 10:33am

The New Mexico DOJ Releases New Report on Hazing Failures at NMSU that Resulted in $8 Million Settlement

The Attorney General of New Mexico has released a new report on lessons learned of failures wothin NMSU related to hazing incidents with recommendations to the state's colleges and the state legislature. 

This is the same incident which resulted in an $8 Million payout for damages. New Mexico State agreed to pay $8 million to settle a lawsuit involving two basketball players who said they were sexually assaulted by teammates.

Terms of the settlement were released on the state's open-records. Deuce Benjamin and and his father, William, who was a co-defendant, will receive $4.125 million, while the other plaintiff, Shak Odunewu, will receive $3.875 million.

Deuce Benjamin transferred to the Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds as a result of fallout from the incident. Concerning his transfer he stated: "Due to the actions of others (which I will not go into here) that dream changed into a nightmare. Adding insult to injury, Coach Hooten recently informed me that it would be in my best interest to continue my education and basketball career elsewhere."

Shakiru Odunewu has moved back into Division I basketball after spending last season with West Valley Community College for the 2023-24 season. He appeared in 32 games, starting 31 averaging 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest for the Vikings. Set a season high 31 points versus Foothill in a 100-82 victory, shooting 92.9% (13-14) from the field. Recorded 319 rebounds in his one year at West Valley CC, while scoring 539 points. While at West Valley CC, he earned First Team All-State, First Team All-Conference, NorCal Freshman of the year, and 2023-24 NABC CCCAA All-America Team

In agreeing to the settlement, the New Mexico State board of regents did not admit liability. The funds will come from a state risk-management insurance policy and is not expected to directly impact the school's annual budget.

Related to this incident and the impact on these two students the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) released a report this week which was prepared as a result of and as a response to the detailing of its investigation into hazing and sexual assault incidents within the New Mexico State University (NMSU) men’s basketball program during the 2022-23 season. The findings reveal systemic failures in protecting student-athletes and a pervasive culture of misconduct within the program.

“This report is intended to shine a light not only on the specific misconduct by members of NMSU’s basketball team but also the institutional deficiencies that allowed that misconduct to go unaddressed by leaders inside the university,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez in a letter to the board of regents. “While NMSU has made commendable progress since these incidents occurred, more must be done to ensure accountability and prevent future harm.”

The investigation stemmed from incidents involving three basketball players—Deshawndre Washington, Kim Aiken Jr., and Doctor Bradley—who engaged in a months-long scheme of sexualized hazing targeting at least four teammates and two student-managers. The NMDOJ report highlights the inability of NMSU’s student safety programs to deter or address this behavior, citing lax oversight, inconsistent discipline, and inadequate preventative measures.

Key Findings:

  • The assaults occurred in an environment characterized by a toxic culture that permeated the basketball program.
  • Opportunities to observe and intervene were missed by those close to the team.
  • Institutional safeguards were insufficient to prevent or address misconduct.

“We also hope the report will serve as a roadmap for other educational leaders in our state for how they can take proactive steps to either prevent or at least mitigate the traumatizing impact that hazing has on students at every level of our educational system,” Torrez added.

The NMDOJ identified seven critical areas of concern: institutional governance and student engagement, policies, reporting mechanisms, training, Athletics Department culture and recruiting practices, resources for sexual assault victims, and interdepartmental coordination. From these findings, the report outlines thirty-five recommendations aimed at improving campus safety and preventing future incidents, a summary of the recommendations is below.

High-Priority Recommendations for NMSU:

  1. Enhanced Coordination: Develop written guidelines for collaboration between the Athletic Department, Office of Institutional Equity, and Dean of Students.
  2. Mandatory Training: Institute recurring Title IX and anti-hazing training for all students and staff.
  3. Consistent Discipline: Enforce proportional disciplinary measures for student-athletes based on the severity of misconduct.
  4. Recruiting Scrutiny: Strengthen standards for recruiting practices and coach/player vetting.
  5. Leadership Commitment: Ensure senior leadership prioritizes and adequately funds safety initiatives and programming.
  6. Resource Center Creation: Establish a center dedicated to sexual violence education, prevention, and victim advocacy.

The NMDOJ remains committed to working with NMSU, the Legislature, and other stakeholders to implement these recommendations and ensure the safety and well-being of all students.

A copy of the letter sent to NMSU leadership was made public and is below, as well as the full NMDOJ report:

Final Report Letter to NMSU

Full Report: Title IX and Hazing on Campus: Lessons Learned from New Mexico State University

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