Group of former Northwestern football players to share stories of racism, hazing for first time

CHICAGO (November 3, 2023) – A group of former Northwestern University football players who were subjected to racial discrimination, hazing, physical abuse, and retaliation while part of the athletic program will share their stories for the first time during a press conference on Friday, November 3 in Chicago ahead of Northwestern’s football game at Wrigley Field Saturday. The athletes will share stories that highlight the disturbing and dehumanizing nature of the abuse they endured during their time at Northwestern.

For the video coverage of this conference, please click here to view on YouTube.

Several players will verbally share their stories and they will be supported by a number of other former football players who will be attending the press conference, but will not share their experiences at this time.

The players are represented by Chicago law firm Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. and co-counsel Stinar Law, PLLC. The firms represent over 50 former Northwestern student-athletes who have suffered trauma due to racial discrimination, sexual abuse, hazing, and other forms of misconduct that caused physical and emotional harm. Many former football players were 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.

“Each athlete we represent has a unique story to share and experienced racism, hazing or retaliation in different ways. It’s heartbreaking to hear what they went through during their time at Northwestern and to know they were at such a vulnerable age when the misconduct occurred. We hope these stories will prevent future student-athletes from enduring the same abuse they were subjected to,’” attorney Patrick A. Salvi II said.

“We applaud this brave group of men who will be coming forward to shed more light on the disturbing misconduct that took place within Northwestern’s athletic department. It is not easy for them to relive scarring moments from their past, but they are doing it for a greater cause and to bring awareness to the issue,” attorney Parker Stinar said.

The press conference will be held on Friday, November 3 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/81153152321 .

The 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.

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