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July 26, 2023

Northwestern Student Athletes Sue over Abusive Hazing Practices
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Back in the U.S., Northwestern University is in the midst of a growing
scandal over abusive hazing practices in its athletic departments. On
Monday, a volleyball player sued Northwestern over alleged retaliation
after she reported abuse. This follows lawsuits by former Northwestern
quarterback Lloyd Yates, who spoke out at a news conference in Chicago
last week.

Lloyd Yates: "There was a code of silence that felt insurmountable to
break. And speaking up could lead to consequences that affected playing
time and can warrant further abuse. Normalizing this culture became a
necessity. The abusive hazing was so entrenched in the Northwestern
football culture that even some of our coaches took part in it. The
graphic, sexually intense behavior was well known throughout the
program. We were physically and emotionally beaten down, and some
players have contemplated suicide as a result. The abusive culture was
especially devastating for many players of color."

Northwestern's head football coach, Pat Fitzgerald, has been fired in
the wake of the revelations. Attorney Ben Crump says Northwestern's
athletic departments "normalized" a "pattern and practice" of physical
and mental abuse, and that some of the students were minors when the
abuse took place. We'll speak to Ben Crump about this, and other
stories, later in the broadcast.


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