The Latest Breaking News from Northwestern

Northwestern has been added to a long list of American universities to face a scandal in athletics and may eventually join the trend of making large payouts following allegations of sexual abuse

The player, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Tuesday in the Cook County Court that Fitzgerald, Northwestern University President Michael Schill, the board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg enabled and concealed sexual misconduct and racial discrimination.

A former Northwestern football player filed the first lawsuit against Pat Fitzgerald and members of the school’s leadership, seeking damages stemming from a hazing scandal that cost the former football coach his job

Black athletes long have been involved in battles beyond the athletic field. The university’s culture didn’t become toxic overnight.

When I read about the allegations of rampant sexual violence in the Northwestern University football program, I was horrified. But sadly, I wasn’t surprised. As a cheerleader, I, too, was a victim of sexual abuse and harassment at Northwestern University, and school officials did nothing to stop it.

With lawyers becoming involved, who knows what lies ahead in this scandal?

The team is set to lose its first player since the coach was fired over allegations of sexual hazing and racism within the program.

Eight former Northwestern University football players who say they were subjected to hazing are being represented for expected legal action by prominent attorney Ben Crump and the Chicago firm Levin & Perconti.

“Sadly, our research suggests that this kind of abuse of student athletes may be far more common on college campuses than we know, because there is tremendous pressure to keep quiet,” attorney Ben Crump said. “It’s time for a reckoning to protect young athletes.”

The school fired head coach Pat Fitzgerald last week following a hazing investigation.

It didn’t take long for the fallout from Pat Fitzgerald’s stunning firing to spill over into Northwestern’s recruiting prospects.