|
In a letter to the university president and
other school officials, a group of six faculty at the private
university and residents of Evanston, Ill., called for the delay
of a planned $800 million renovation to Ryan Field, the
Wildcats' football stadium.
Fitzgerald, head coach at Northwestern since 2006, was fired on
Monday with $42 million remaining on his contract. That decision
came three days after the original discipline for Fitzgerald was
a two-week suspension without pay, all stemming from an
independent investigation that found hazing allegations were
"largely supported by evidence."
A player came forward to the student newspaper, the Daily
Northwestern, and revealed that the investigation was not just
into allegations of hazing, but alleged coerced sexual acts.
Fitzgerald was also accused of presiding over a "culture of
enabling racism."
There have also been calls for support for Fitzgerald from some
former players and alumni.
University president Michael Schill wrote a letter to the
Northwestern community Saturday night admitting that the school
"may have erred" in the severity of its discipline. Schill then
confirmed reports of Fitzgerald's firing with another letter
Monday evening.
"This afternoon, I informed Head Football Coach Pat Fitzgerald
that he was being relieved of his duties effective immediately,"
Schill wrote Monday. "The decision comes after a difficult and
complex evaluation of my original discipline decision imposed
last week on Coach Fitzgerald for his failure to know and
prevent significant hazing in the football program."
Schill said he spent "a great deal of time" discussing the
matter with the board of trustees, faculty, students, alumni
"and Coach Fitzgerald himself."
Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg, a former NCAA
executive and AD at Tulsa and Eastern Michigan University, was
in contact with Schill while on a scheduled overseas vacation,
which he reportedly returned from Tuesday. He is reportedly
scheduled to meet with the team later Tuesday.
Gragg took over in June 2021 after the resignation of Mike
Polisky, previously deputy AD at Northwestern, just days into
the job. Polisky stepped down in May 2021 after being named in a
sexual harassment lawsuit by former Wildcats cheerleaders.
--Field Level Media
[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
