Northwestern is launching two external reviews of its athletic department following two high-profile hazing and abuse scandals involving its football and baseball teams.
Northwestern is launching two external reviews of its athletic department following high-profile hazing and abuse scandals involving its football and baseball teams.
It also comes amid litigation filed anonymously by a former Northwestern athlete that named ex-head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, university president Michael Schill and athletic director Derrick Gragg among its defendants.
Schill announced the new reviews on Tuesday in a letter to the school’s faculty and staff.
They are part of an effort in the wake of the scandals to ensure that there is “appropriate accountability for the athletic department,” according to the letter obtained by ESPN.
“I will continue to do whatever is necessary to address this situation and ensure that our athletic program remains one you can be proud of and one that is fully aligned with and reflects our values,” Schills wrote. “Equally important, I give you my commitment that we will redouble our efforts to safeguard the welfare of each and every student-athlete at Northwestern.
