Northwestern University Faces Additional Lawsuits and Allegations of Misconduct in Athletics Programs
Northwestern University is facing more legal trouble as lawyers representing an unnamed former football player announced their intention to file a second lawsuit against the school. The lawyers also added ACC commissioner Jim Phillips as a defendant in the case. In addition to the football program, allegations of misconduct have also emerged in the softball and volleyball programs.
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, who served as Northwestern’s athletic director from 2008 to 2021, has been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. The lawsuits also list the school itself, president Michael Schill, former president Morton Schapiro, the board of trustees, current athletic director Derrick Gragg, and former football coach Pat Fitzgerald as defendants.
Attorneys Patrick Salvi II and Parker Stinar held a news conference in Chicago to discuss the cases. They emphasized that it was not just one coach but an entire athletic department and possibly even the president that allowed these incidents to occur without taking appropriate action to protect the students involved.
While the news conference and initial filings did not provide many new specifics, the lawyers stated that more allegations continue to come forward. Stinar mentioned that their clients have informed them that football coaches were aware of hazing incidents within the school.
The lawyers also mentioned a “serious hazing incident” in the volleyball program that led to the cancellation of a game. However, they did not provide further details about the incident. Volleyball coach Shane Davis received a contract extension in 2021.
Salvi expressed concern that these incidents were being swept under the rug, referring to discussions they had with individuals who came forward about similar issues in the softball program. He also mentioned that baseball coach Jim Foster was fired for creating a toxic culture, but the details surrounding his termination were not released.
Northwestern University declined to comment on the pending litigation. In a letter to the Northwestern community, President Schill announced two external reviews of the athletic program, both of which will be made public.
The investigation into football hazing at Northwestern began in late 2022 following an anonymous whistleblower’s complaint. The school released a vague executive summary on July 7, which resulted in Fitzgerald’s suspension for two weeks without pay and the implementation of new guidelines in the program. Specific allegations were published by The Daily Northwestern the following day, leading to public backlash. As a result, Schill fired Fitzgerald three days later. Fitzgerald has indicated that he may take legal action against the school. The school also fired baseball coach Jim Foster on July 13 due to abusive behavior.
Salvi and Stinar demanded the release of the full six-month investigation into football hazing and expressed interest in investigating the relationship between Northwestern and the ArentFox Schiff law firm that conducted the investigation. It is evident that legal action involving Northwestern is just beginning, as more facts about the widespread and institutional problems within the university continue to emerge.
Required reading: A timeline of the football controversy at Northwestern
In conclusion, Northwestern University is facing additional lawsuits and allegations of misconduct in its athletics programs. The lawsuits name ACC commissioner Jim Phillips as a defendant, along with other university officials. The lawyers representing the former players emphasized that it was not just one coach but a systemic issue within the athletic department. The university has announced external reviews of its athletic program, and legal action is expected to continue as more facts come to light.