UW-Platteville has suspended men's cross country team activities during a university investigation into allegations of hazing within the program. Head coach James Akita has been placed on paid administrative leave until further notice, and the probe now involves state-level compliance officers rather than campus staff alone.
The university received an initial hazing report late in the afternoon on Sept. 1, according to WTMJ. Chancellor Tammy Evetovich was briefed on the report the following day, then requested additional details before ultimately deciding on Sept. 4 to temporarily suspend all men's cross-country activities and meets pending further review, as reported by WisPolitics. The university has not specified what type of hazing was alleged, per the same report from WTMJ.
The investigation is now being handled by the Universities of Wisconsin Administration Office of Compliance and Integrity, WisPolitics reports, signaling that the matter has moved beyond routine internal team discipline into formal state administrative oversight. The Wisconsin State Journal has additionally reported that the university's investigation encompasses alleged hazing alongside broader student-athlete code-of-conduct violations, expanding the scope of what investigators are examining.
A Program Built Over Decades, Now on Hold
The suspension lands on UW-Platteville's men's cross country program. Akita is the head coach, having been named to the position in June 2023.
The available reports do not detail Akita's prior coaching background.
University spokesperson Melanie Platt-Gibson said the university's priority is to support students involved while ensuring the matter is investigated thoroughly, fairly and promptly. The university has said it will offer support and counseling resources to students involved as the investigation proceeds, according to WTMJ.
Women's Team Competes While Men Sit Out
The UW-Platteville women's cross country team took first place at the Luther All-American Invite, according to UW-Platteville Athletics.
What Wisconsin Law Says About Hazing
The investigation carries potential legal weight beyond campus discipline. The available reports do not detail the applicable Wisconsin statute or University of Wisconsin administrative provisions.
The available reports do not detail federal hazing-transparency requirements. It remains unclear how many student-athletes are directly implicated in the UW-Platteville allegations or whether findings will lead to criminal referrals.
Chancellor Evetovich, who ordered the suspension, was previously the subject of Hoodline reporting on a $44,275 retention bonus she received under a Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents incentive plan even as campus enrollment slid. UW-Platteville has also faced a separate campus tragedy in recent years, when Hoodline covered a fatal shooting at Wilgus Hall in May 2025.
