A former Western Kentucky University swim team member claims he was assaulted and forced to drink alcohol during alleged hazing incidents.

Collin Craig, a freshman from Meadow Vista, Calif., who is listed on WKU’s 2014-15 swim team roster, filed a police complaint Jan. 6 in which he said he was assaulted and forced by other swim team members to drink alcohol at different times throughout the fall semester, according to a Bowling Green police report.

Craig, who is 18 and not yet old enough to legally buy or consume alcohol, also reported multiple assaults and hazing incidents. 

“We’ve received allegations involving incidents of physical assaults involving members of the swim team that have taken place during parties,” Bowling Green Police Department spokesman Officer Ronnie Ward said. “We are in the beginning stages of the investigation and not prepared to release much more.’

No arrests have been made.

“WKU is cooperating with our investigation,” Ward said.

The incidents reportedly took place in the 1300 block of Chestnut Street, according to police records.

Craig is no longer a WKU student, university spokesman Bob Skipper said in an email. Craig was attending school on a partial scholarship. 

The case has been assigned to BGPD’s detective division.

“The allegations are being investigated by university officials,” Skipper said in an email. “The results of that investigation will be communicated to the appropriate university administrators to determine the next course of action. WKU cannot comment further or discuss the specifics of the allegations during that investigation.”

In a telephone interview, Skipper said: “We do take hazing seriously on this campus.”

If the allegations are true, they violate WKU’s hazing policy. 

“Hazing is considered a serious violation of The Student Code of Conduct and is prohibited in all forms,” according to WKU’s policy posted on the university’s website. 

“Western Kentucky University defines hazing as any action, physical abuse or creation of a situation which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of a participant by any person. A participant is defined as a university student or any pledge. A person is defined as a university student, member, alumnus, affiliate alumnus, guest of any campus organization or other individuals,” according to policy.

The policy specifically lists forced or coerced use of alcohol as hazing. Students found in violation of the policy could face sanctions. 

A voicemail message left at Craig’s California home was not returned. 

Craig is the son of two accomplished swimmers, according to his biography on the university’s website. His father, Kevin Craig, participated as a swimmer in the 1985 World University Games and swam in the 1988 Olympic Trials, according to Craig’s biography on the university’s athletics website. His mother, Ellen Craig, was a swimmer at the Division III level and is a record holder in the 800 free relay.

Craig was a biology major with plans to attend medical school, according to his online biography.