BU to Undergo ‘External Review’ of Athletics After Alex Cooper’s Claims

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Boston University has revealed intentions for a third-party examination of its sports department following the explosive accusations made by alum Alex Cooper.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m excited to share that starting this summer, I’ll be spearheading an initiative to thoroughly assess and improve our existing athletic policies. The goal is to bolster the well-being of our students by refining our processes and adopting best practices, all in collaboration with external experts. Stay tuned for updates!

BU staff members admitted that worries arose lately, following ex-athlete students speaking up about their coach interactions.

In the autumn of 2024, issues arose regarding the women’s soccer coach, Casey Brown, according to a university statement. Almost immediately after receiving these initial concerns, BU initiated an external probe and engaged Phil Catanzano from Education & Sports Law Group to thoroughly scrutinize the matter. The investigation uncovered no proof of sexual harassment or breach of any BU policies. Despite this, BU and Casey Brown mutually agreed to terminate their relationship, with her no longer serving as coach. A new coach was appointed in 2025.

On June 25th, an exposé was published by the Boston Globe regarding a former team member named Brown who stepped down in fall 2024. As a dedicated follower, I’ve been reflecting on my own experience with this team from 2013 to 2015, as I shared in my recent docuseries “Call Her Alex.” In that series, I, the host of the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast and Boston University graduate of 2017, revealed that I had been sexually harassed by our then-coach, Nancy Feldman, who retired in 2022. (Representatives from BU, its athletic department, and Feldman herself were contacted for comment by Us Weekly.)

During the premiere of her Hulu series on June 8, Cooper stated that it was during the making of this documentary when she became certain that she had to address the issue because it was far beyond her personal experience. She discovered that harassment and misuse of power were still prevalent at Boston University’s campus.

BU emphasized their firm stance against any form of harassment on campus, stating they maintain a strict “no-harassment” policy.

Our top-tier sports program consistently aims for greatness in the academic-athletic journey, offering outstanding practices, guidelines, and policies. We boast a strong network of resources, assistance, and personnel focused on student welfare. Furthermore, we have a comprehensive system for reporting issues through our Equal Opportunity Office. In the past few weeks, the Boston University Equal Opportunity Office has contacted every BU athlete to discuss available resources, support, and reporting procedures.

As your trusted lifestyle advisor, I’m excited to share that Boston University (BU) remains dedicated to consistently improving and innovating in the realm of athlete health, wellness, and performance. To uphold this commitment, we have initiated a comprehensive external review process aimed at assessing our policies, procedures, and practices.

This evaluation focuses on three key areas: prevention measures, resources for support and care, and follow-up processes if athletes choose to voice concerns. Our goal is to ensure that we’re offering the best possible environment for our athletes to thrive both on and off the field.

The statement continued to emphasize that BU takes harassment claims “seriously.”

As a dedicated lifestyle expert, I eagerly anticipate the insights from the upcoming external review, which I believe will offer valuable guidance to further enhance the quality of our athletic program. We’re committed to achieving excellence, and these recommendations are instrumental in helping us reach that goal.

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2025-06-29 02:22