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Northwestern brings in former US Attorney General to conduct process review

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Northwestern University today announced that it has engaged former United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch from the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison to lead an independent review of the processes and accountability mechanisms in place at the University to detect, report and respond to potential misconduct in its athletics programs, including hazing, bullying and discrimination of any kind.

As part of her review, Lynch will examine the culture of Northwestern Athletics to ensure it is consistent with the University’s mission and values as a leading academic institution. Lynch will conduct this review with feedback from and engagement with faculty, staff, students and alumni. The results of her review will be made public.

“Hazing has absolutely no place at Northwestern. Period, said Northwestern President Michael Schill. “I am determined that with the help of Attorney General Lynch, we will become a leader in combating the practice of hazing in intercollegiate athletics and a model for other universities. We will provide all of our students with the resources and support they need and do whatever is necessary to protect their safety and ensure that our athletics program remains one we can all be proud of.”

Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Derrick Gragg added, “The Athletics Department welcomes this review as a critical tool in identifying the additional steps Northwestern can take to eradicate hazing. By making the results of her review public, we hope our entire community will be better informed and guided as we all work to address this critical issue in college athletics.

Lynch’s review is part of a series of immediate actions the University has taken in response to the findings from the independent investigation of allegations of hazing in the football program, which were announced July 7. Those actions include:

◦ Monitoring of the football locker room.
◦ In-person anti-hazing training led by outside experts for all University sports teams, coaches and staff. The first session begins Aug. 3 for the football team - its first day of fall practice with training for other teams to follow.
◦ Enhancement of the University’s existing reporting resources with the development of an online tool for reporting complaints of hazing, bullying and other misconduct.

Lynch will begin her review immediately and will provide updates to both President Schill and the Board of Trustees’ Audit and Risk Committee. At the conclusion of her review, Lynch will make her results public.

Thoughts?

* Related…

* In hazing scandal, Northwestern University is flunking crisis management: “Unless everyone gets in the same room to map out and agree upon a prompt, transparent crisis response, then the longer you let the story fester, the worse it becomes,” said Ron Culp, a public relations consultant at DePaul University. He added that Northwestern was slow on the uptake to figure out the seriousness of the allegations. “That’s kind of where they got themselves off to a slow negative start in the public perception of what was going on there.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:24 am

Comments

Schill is a dope who should be sacked immediately.

Comment by Andersonville Right Winger Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:25 am
Conclusion is pretty straight forward;

Fire coaches found to violate any of the rights of student athletes including unjust treatment masquerading as coaching.

Fire the Athletic Director.

Start from scratch

Yep, it’s a “convict than trial” situation, namely because NU already admitted so much guilt

Let’s see where this goes.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:30 am
This is a necessary step for recovery. Unfortunately, it is a post mortem accounting. My guess is that the findings will indicate “we had a serious problem with a failure of oversight, and everyone is now committed to not allowing the same things going forward.”

But again, this is a necessary step for public perceptions.

Comment by H-W Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:36 am
Where is the NCAA in all of this? They don’t get the news?

Clean house at NW and move forward. Or maybe cut the athletic programs and focus on teaching and learning. Kind of what the University of Chicago did with football back in 1939.

Comment by JS Mill Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:41 am
so she’s brought in to, what, re do the Hickey investigation? why can’t they make that public? or was that a nothing burger, on purpose?

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:41 am
===Hickey investigation===

If Lynch does her job… the overall Hickey Investigation, conclusions, and disciplinary action should face a “post-mortem” (great wordsmithing by - H-W -, it’s this exactly) as to the purposeful failures to let Fitzgerald (and others) off the hook and let the problems continue in the name of “The Fitzgerald Way Athletic Department Culture”

Hickey’s report reads, for me, “yeah, it was some bad, but what is really the goal, so let’s move on”

Problem was, real people being hazed, real people facing sexualized misconduct in that hazing, multiple programs, a culture.

No one counted on a student paper not buying the in-depth want for answers, so they took it from there.

The Hickey Investigation is like “evidence”, for me, that culture was to be saved, not reversed… to be “tamed” but not removed.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:49 am
=== Or maybe cut the athletic programs and focus on teaching and learning. Kind of what the University of Chicago did with football back in 1939. ===

They will do that. Too much money in college sports.

=== so she’s brought in to, what, re do the Hickey investigation? why can’t they make that public? ===

At this point, I do not see the benefit to the University of releasing that report with all of this litigation pending. Releasing the report does not limit exposure to additional legal claims or suits.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:56 am
This report will be used to determine the amount of money NU will pay for the various lawsuits that have been filed.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 9:58 am
===do not see the benefit to the University of releasing that report with all of this litigation pending.===

They are setting up real separation from Patrick Fitzgerald.

Had Fitzgerald walked without his complaints (legal as they are for him towards NU, in that context) the university might have taken more arrows for Fitzgerald, letting an overall settlement even take place.

Now, why would NU want the public to actually “think” the “Fitzgerald Way” was merely overlooked, with Fitzgerald threatening his own action(s)

Fitzgerald will be isolated now, as one who will like others, and his own chance to rehabilitate goes down the deeper NU is gonna go.

I’m sure Dan Webb warned Fitzgerald that NU would go after him if he didn’t lay down. This is that.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:01 am
“… we will become a leader in combating the practice of hazing …”

When you are at the bottom of the barrel, you have no place to go but up.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:02 am
@Oswego Willy, HW? post mortem? I’m half asleep is that from the Crain’s piece? paywall stopping me.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:02 am
===NU will pay===

More like “willing to pay”, to settle under the facts as NU sees them.

We’ll see if the victims concur.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:02 am
===If Lynch does her job===

This is a process review. I wouldn’t expect much yet.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:04 am
Seems like an expensive way to dodge NCAA sanctions

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:06 am
===This is a process review. I wouldn’t expect much yet.===

Agreed. It’s why the term “post mortem” is so apt, the job is to re-review how they got where and then to here.

If there are, in the end, glaring gaps, it will be difficult to see or say that Lynch did her job.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:07 am
- Amalia -

Just an observation of the charge put to Lynch, and what the review process seems to be in light of the pending litigation too.

At least for me.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:08 am
Lynch’s law firm bio says she’s been handling other university misconduct reviews.

I hope her review will extend to the dysfunction of the Northwestern board, which is far too large and homogenous.
https://evanstonroundtable.com/2023/07/27/ready-to-edit-shrouded-in-secrecy-an-analysis-of-northwesterns-board/

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:11 am
The response has been pathetic and continues to be. I just about fell over when they administration assured everyone last week that they are having serious conversations with the donors. The donors? Really? If there is ever was a what about the children moment this is one and they have not expressed a bit of caring about the damage that took place on their watch.

Comment by P. Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:44 am
I remember, one school (they were public) brought in high-powered legal talent to do a review and then had them issue an oral report so it wasn’t FOIAable.

NW is private, but it will be interesting to see how hard they work (if at all) to avoid creating a paper trail that the lawyers can use in the lawsuits.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:46 am
Thanks OW. Lynch took on FIFA and Sepp Blatter so NU’s coaches, look out.

Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:50 am
NU is following the old school method of crisis management: (1) Fire a few people, but no one higher up; (2) Bring in an outside investigator; (3) Issue an insincere apology; (4) Promise it will never happen again; (5) Forget it ever happened and resume business as usual.

Comment by Friendly Bob Adams Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 11:12 am
- Amalia -

You’re welcome. Just my thoughts to it.

I am very interested to how this review looks at what happened. NU, like it or not, might have to live with what the new post-mortem says happened, maybe not as in line with NU hopes it could sell.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 11:15 am
“I hope her review will extend to the dysfunction of the Northwestern board, which is far too large and homogenous.”

Don’t hold your breath. They think they’ve handled this whole situation really well which explains why Gragg and Schill are still employed when they both should have been fired for the coverup.

Comment by New Day Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 11:36 am
I wasn’t born yesterday, New Day. I’ve seen how such investigations work from both the inside and the outside. But I still have hopes.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 11:57 am
Inadequate.

Comment by Stephanie Kollmann Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 1:00 pm
Northwestern is going to do what it has to do to lose as little money (both in damages and future financial support) as possible. That is their main focus (rightly or wrongly). It will be interesting to see how this all the lawsuits shake out, although that will likely be years down the road.

Comment by Hannibal Lecter Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 1:16 pm
Has Lynch submitted for admission to the Illinois Bar yet?

Comment by Unionman Tuesday, Aug 1, 23 @ 10:35 pm