Northwestern president releases letter of support for student-athletes amid multiple hazing lawsuits
The same day former Northwestern football players announced a new lawsuit that detailed some hazing allegations against the program, president Michael Schill released another letter to the university community. He expressed his support for the student-athletes in light of the events of the last few weeks.
“As you are no doubt aware, the last few weeks have been a very difficult and challenging time for our University,” the letter read. “The investigation into allegations of hazing in our football program and the subsequent dismissal of former head coach Pat Fitzgerald have placed us and our athletic program in the national spotlight. This scrutiny and accompanying media criticism have been especially difficult for our student-athletes as they prepare for the start of the fall season and the coming academic year.
“I have read and heard broad condemnations of our athletic program in articles, social media and press conferences. The picture painted by some of these commentators of our program, our student-athletes and the University itself is entirely inconsistent with the Northwestern we all know and love. While there is no doubt in my mind that shameful events did take place in the football program, I also know that the vast majority of our student-athletes — in football and in our other 18 D1 teams — are people of character who do amazing things both on the field and in the classroom. I am proud of them.”
Monday’s letter was Schill’s fourth to the university community after allegations came to light within the football program. Those ultimately led to the firing of Pat Fitzgerald after Schill reconsidered the original punishment — a two-week suspension without pay. Neither Schill nor athletics director Derrick Gragg have spoken publicly about the situation.
Additionally, there are now two external reviews into the Northwestern athletic department. One review will look into how the athletic department detects threats and assesses accountability, and the other one will look into the culture of the athletic department. The university will make both reviews public upon completion.
Allegations are also coming out against the volleyball program after a former player filed a lawsuit this week. That came out Monday just before multiple football players detailed allegations in a new suit against the university.
The lawsuit details the “physical, sexual and emotional abuse” the players endured from other members of the team. The allegations first came to light from The Daily Northwestern the student newspaper at Northwestern University. The newspaper quoted multiple former players, claiming Fitzgerald fostered a hazing culture that included racism.
Per USA Today, Northwestern assistant coaches were “ran” by players “on more than one occasion.” According to the report, the complaint defines “running” as incidents in which a group of players forcibly held down a nonconsenting individual and “[rubbed] their genital areas against the [person’s] genitals, face, and buttocks while rocking back and forth.”