Dartmouth University has announced that it will not engage in collective bargaining with the union formed by its men's basketball players, despite a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board that classified the players as employees. The school contends that athletes in the Ivy League are not employees and is seeking a review of the decision. This move could potentially lead to the case being taken to federal court, as the players had voted 13-2 to join the Service Employees International Union Local 560.
Three former New Mexico State University basketball players have been charged with felony sex crimes and other offenses related to alleged hazing incidents. The players are accused of holding younger teammates and student staff against their will and engaging in violent acts, including grabbing victims' genital areas. The offenses are said to have occurred between August and November 2022. Each defendant faces multiple felony charges, including criminal sexual penetration and false imprisonment. The university had previously suspended the men's basketball program and fired the head coach over allegations of hazing. The team has since resumed under a new coach.
Fifteen Dartmouth men's basketball players have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to form a union, excluding team managers and supervisors. This could potentially be the first successful attempt to form a union of college athletes, unlike the 2015 case involving Northwestern football players that was dismissed by the NLRB. There are also pending cases related to college athletes and unfair labor practices. The NCAA has argued against athletes being classified as employees and has lobbied for a federal law designating them as non-employees. The NLRB's pursuit of the NCAA and conferences as joint employers in a case involving the Pac-12 and USC could potentially extend the right to unionize to public school players as well. Dartmouth is a private school without athletic scholarships, which may complicate the case.
