Former Northwestern football player to discuss racism, hazing, physical and emotional abuse allowed by University

PRESS CONFERENCE: Wednesday, August 2

9 a.m.

The Law Offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

161 N. Clark Street, Suite 4700

Chicago, IL 60601

CHICAGO (August 1, 2023) – The Illinois Law Firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. and co-counsel The Stinar Law Firm, will be filing a lawsuit against Northwestern and other defendants affiliated with the university and its athletic department on behalf of a former Northwestern football player who was subjected to hazing, sexual and physical abuse, racial discrimination, and other dehumanizing acts. The lawsuit will be the first lawsuit filed against Northwestern by Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard and the Stinar Law Firm in which the plaintiff is named.

The complaint, to be filed on behalf of former offensive lineman Ramon Diaz alleges Northwestern, its Board of Trustees, former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald, and former athletic director and current ACC commissioner Jim Phillips, were all in a position to address the toxic culture but did not. Diaz played for Northwestern from 2005-2008.

According to the complaint, the football program enabled a culture of racial discrimination and allowed football players to shave the words “Cinco de Mayo” into the back of Plaintiff Diaz’s head while the team watched. When Diaz was still a minor, he was forced to participate in a hazing tradition called “the carwash,” in which players lined up naked, covered in soap, spinning around at the entrance of the showers so that all freshman players were forced to rub up against the line of men to get to their showers.

“The social pressure and hazing on the football team was so severe that even unwilling participants were forced to conform to a culture of abuse, racial discrimination, bigotry, and sexual exploitation to be part of the ‘Wildcat family,’” Plaintiff’s attorney Patrick A. Salvi II said. “Had he known the true culture of the football program, Ramon would not have committed to play for Northwestern. Once he was at school, he was unfortunately under immense social and financial pressure to remain on scholarship at Northwestern.”

The lawsuit also details an incident in which Diaz was injured during practice and was told he could return to practice despite his ankle being broken in three places.

“Instead of focusing on players’ physical and emotional wellbeing, the Defendants brushed harmful acts aside as ‘team bonding,’” attorney Parker Stinar said. “It is despicable that it took so long for this widespread systemic abuse and harassment to finally be addressed.”

Mr. Diaz and his attorneys will discuss the coming lawsuit during a press conference on Wednesday, August 2 at 9 a.m. at the Law Offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. (161 N. Clark St., Suite 4700, Chicago, IL). The press conference will be live streamed at this link for those who are unable to attend in person: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89834839149 .

During the press conference, the attorneys will also address Northwestern hiring former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate the University’s processes and athletics department culture.

Ramon Diaz and the other former athletes who have filed lawsuits against Northwestern are also represented by attorney Jennifer M. Cascio of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.

For more information, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com.

If you are an athlete other member of the Northwestern community who experienced sexual or physical abuse at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, or have any information, please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard (312-372-1227 ; www.salvilaw.com ) to discuss your legal rights.

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