2 rowers kicked off UW crew after slur is painted

Two rowers have been kicked off the University of Washington men's crew after admitting they painted an anti-gay slur on a fence outside a teammate's home.

"An inappropriate word was painted on a fence" in front of the 19-year-old's house, and men's crew coach Bob Ernst "took some very quick action and elected to remove those members for violating team rules," said Marie Tuite, the UW's senior associate athletic director.

The incident involving the nonvarsity rowers occurred the night of March 25, when the Huskies' best crews were in California at a regatta.

Citing privacy regulations, UW officials, including athletic director Todd Turner, declined to identify the disciplined rowers or their year in school.

The victim suspects he was targeted because he was ill and missed a crew practice the previous morning, a police report says. The victim also told police he had been outspoken about some of the hazing that freshmen undergo on the team.

Ernst said, "I don't know what he's talking about. ... We don't do anything that you wouldn't be invited to if you wanted to come."

Turner said he doesn't think there is hazing in the UW athletic department but added, "I'm not so naive to believe I know everything that goes on. ... We don't live with them [athletes] 24 hours a day."

Seattle Times staff reporters Sara Jean Green and Craig Smith contributed to this report.