Boston University (BU) has announced an external review of its athletics department in response to serious allegations made by alum Alex Cooper. The review aims to enhance the department’s policies and practices to better support student well-being. This decision comes after Cooper, a former student-athlete who played soccer for BU from 2013 to 2015, raised concerns regarding the treatment of athletes within the program.
In a statement released on June 26, 2025, a BU spokesperson confirmed that the university is seeking an outside review to provide recommendations on improving current policies and processes. The statement emphasized the university’s commitment to student health, wellness, and excellence in athletics. “We invite a new external review to look at our policies, processes, and other practices,” the statement read. “This is designed to evaluate our prevention, resources for support and care, and processes for follow-up should athletes bring complaints.”
The decision for the review follows allegations made by former student-athletes about their interactions with coaches, particularly concerning the head women’s soccer coach, Casey Brown. In the fall of 2024, concerns were raised about Brown, prompting BU to initiate an external investigation led by Phil Catanzano of the Education & Sports Law Group. Although the investigation found no evidence of sexual harassment or violations of university policy, Brown and BU parted ways, and she is no longer the head coach.
Cooper’s recent comments have brought renewed attention to the issue. In a June 8 premiere of her Hulu docuseries “Call Her Alex,” she recounted her experiences on the team and alleged that she had been sexually harassed by then-coach Nancy Feldman, who retired in 2022. Cooper’s statements have resonated with many current and former players, prompting a broader conversation about the culture within BU’s athletics program.
The Boston Globe published an exposé on June 25 detailing the allegations against Brown and the circumstances surrounding her departure. Cooper expressed her determination to speak out about these issues, stating, “When I really knew that I needed to speak about this because it’s so much bigger than me was during the filming of this documentary. I found out that the harassment and abuse of power is still happening on the campus of Boston University.”
In light of the recent allegations, BU has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for harassment and emphasized the importance of a safe environment for all student-athletes. The university has reached out to every athlete to review available resources and support systems. “We have a premier athletics program that strives for excellence in the scholar-athlete experience, which includes exemplary practices and policies,” the statement continued.
The external review is seen as a crucial step for BU as it seeks to address these serious concerns and improve its athletics program. The university has expressed a commitment to continually evaluating and implementing best practices to support the health and well-being of its athletes.
As this situation unfolds, the community will be watching closely to see how BU responds to the findings of the external review and what changes may be implemented to ensure a safe and supportive environment for all student-athletes.
