Story perspectives

Former Player Sues Harvard-Westlake Over Assault Allegations

3/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Aidan Romain, an 18-year-old former water polo player, filed a lawsuit against Harvard-Westlake School.
He alleges years of sexual assault and racial harassment by teammate Lucca van der Woude.
Daniel Watkins, Romain's attorney, says the suit shows a culture of violence in the water polo program.
Harvard-Westlake disputes the claims and says it acted appropriately in response to the allegations.

History

Historical Context

The Title IX Education Amendments of 1972, enacted to prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded education, significantly impacted institutions like Harvard-Westlake. Despite its intent, challenges persist, as highlighted by Aidan Romain's lawsuit, which echoes past cases like Alexander v. Yale (1980) that addressed sexual harassment in schools. In 2018, 1 in 5 female students reported experiencing sexual harassment, underscoring ongoing issues in educational environments.

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Story summary

Aidan Romain, an 18-year-old former water polo player, filed a lawsuit against Harvard-Westlake School.
He alleges years of sexual assault and racial harassment by teammate Lucca van der Woude.
Daniel Watkins, Romain's attorney, says the suit shows a culture of violence in the water polo program.
Harvard-Westlake disputes the claims and says it acted appropriately in response to the allegations.

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