Ex-Northwestern athletes sign letter criticizing school for ‘lack of due process’ in firing of Pat Fitzgerald

A group of former Northwestern athletes sent a letter to the administration criticizing the university for lack of due process for former football head coach Pat Fitzgerald.

In a letter obtained by ESPN, 86 former Northwestern athletes including several of Fitzgerald’s former teammates signed the letter criticizing administrators. It said it “left a welcome mat out for the weaponization of sexual harassment, hazing, and racism allegations.”

Fitzgerald was fired July 10 amid revelations of a hazing scandal within the football program. David Braun was promoted to interim head coach for 2023.

Monday’s letter contends (president Michael) Schill was influenced by social media reaction and ‘abandoned foundational legal ethics’ in firing Fitzgerald,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg wrote.

The letter was scathing towards the administration by describing a knee-jerk reaction to fire Fitzgerald.

“By willfully ignoring due process, Northwestern University’s administration has left a welcome mat out for the weaponization of sexual harassment, hazing, and racism accusations to run rampant at Northwestern University,” the letter read, via ESPN. “Any allegation, true or not, will be allowed to cancel anyone’s career and destroy their reputation depending upon popular opinion, while simultaneously allowing the censorship of free speech.

“The collective gains of Northwestern’s Athletic Department over the last three decades, along with Pat Fitzgerald’s legacy and character, have almost been wiped out without any proof of guilt or, much less, even a thorough and proper investigation.”

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