Ex-athletes defend Northwestern athletics culture in letter - ESPN

More than 1,000 former Northwestern athletes have sent an open letter condemning hazing «in any form,» while also defending an athletics culture they say is not represented or defined by allegations that surfaced this summer against some of the school's programs.

The letter, obtained by ESPN, is signed by ex-Northwestern athletes in every varsity sport at the school, including 277 football players and four football managers. The athletes felt compelled to speak out following a wave of lawsuits and other allegations outlining widespread problems at the school.

«The allegations being made are troubling and we support the University's efforts to fully investigate these claims,» the letter reads. «However, these allegations do no represent or define the overall athletics culture at Northwestern.»

Northwestern is facing lawsuits from more than 10 former football players, who allege hazing and other forms of mistreatment within the program. A former volleyball player also filed a lawsuit alleging hazing and mistreatment, and attorneys representing the ex-athletes have hinted at further claims involving other sports programs at Northwestern.

On Aug. 1, the university announced it had hired former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to conduct an investigation of the overall athletics culture and the way the department implements accountability mechanisms.

In Thursday's letter, the former Northwestern athletes cite «a remarkable culture that fosters excellence in sports, academics and community development.» The letter's authors include athletes who graduated from Northwestern between 1954 and 2023. Each sport has more than 10 former players who signed and many have more than 40.

«The opportunity to compete at this level in both