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Amherst College Men's X-Country Team Suspended Over Racist, Misogynistic Messages

AMHERST (CBS/AP) — The men's cross-country team at Amherst College has been suspended from team activities after a number of messages came to light that administrators called racist, misogynistic and homophobic.

The messages surfaced in a report in a student publication, The Indicator, which reported on a series of emails and messages sent from 2013 to 2015. In some messages, female students' pictures are included with comments on their sexual history. Some women are referred to as "meat slabs" or "a walking STD." Many were sent to incoming freshmen.

Administrators on Sunday said team members confirmed the messages, and they are investigating.

Amherst President Biddy Martin calls the messages appalling, vulgar and cruel. Martin added that she is profoundly sad, disappointed and angry at learning the news.

Athletic Director Don Faulstick says the behavior is disgusting and violates the school's zero-tolerance standard for bigotry.

Last month, the men's cross-country team at Harvard was suspended for creating sexually explicit documents about female athletes on the Cambridge campus.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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