BREAKING: Northwestern releases Loretta Lynch’s independent review of athletics department

Roughly one year after Maggie Hickey released her report on hazing inside Northwestern football, the University released another investigation into the entire athletic department.

Northwestern published its independent review of its athletics department on Thursday morning. The review, conducted by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, looked into the department following multiple allegations of misconduct across multiple teams last summer.

“Throughout our review process, Northwestern University was cooperative and transparent, which allowed us to gain a comprehensive understanding of its operations and culture,” Lynch said in a statement. “We are hopeful that our recommendations will help the University reinforce its commitment to fostering accountability and ensuring the well-being of its student-athletes.”

The 50-page report looked at multiple parts of NU’s process for reporting misconduct and inter-department conversations, including strengthening the partnership between the faculty and the athletic department. Most of the report focused on the Committee on Athletics and Recreation (CAR), specifically on exit interviews conducted with each team’s graduating class at the conclusion of the year. The interviews, conducted in a group setting, is supposed to provide feedback on the student-athlete experience, but according to the report, a lack of a clear chain of communication often leads to that feedback not reaching administrators. In fact, most coaches say that they either receive limited or none of the feedback from those surveys.

Lynch also looked at the university’s policy for following up on student-athletes’ reports of misconduct, saying that student athletes were “skeptical that complaints or issues are taken seriously or addressed.”

“This lack of visibility has left some members of the community with the perception that even if they report misconduct, those reports will go unaddressed, which could ultimately discourage student-athletes and staff from reporting in the first place,” Lynch wrote in the report. “It is clear that members of the Northwestern Athletics community are searching for opportunities to engage with individuals who report misconduct without compromising confidentiality or privacy obligations.”

Lynch finished her report with 12 recommendations for the University to implement. These recommendations included creating a standard exit interview for the CAR, memorialize in writing when a complaint was filed as well as providing updates throughout the investigation and creating a new position inside the athletic department specifically focused on the student-athlete experience and reporting mechanisms.

“While our recommendations are focused on the areas in which we believe improvement can and should be made, the results of our review have been largely positive,” Lynch wrote in the report. “We have observed a commitment by the University and Athletics Department to the well-being of their student athletes... We hope that our recommendations, if implemented, will only enhance the Northwestern student-athlete experience”

The report was commissioned by President Michael Schill after multiple allegations of sexual hazing inside the football program led to the dismissal of coach Pat Fitzgerald. Just a couple of days later, baseball coach Jim Foster was relieved of his duties after allegations of misconduct arose surrounding Foster’s lone season in Evanston.

“As a university, we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community, including student-athletes,” Schill said in a statement. “I am proud that Attorney General Lynch and her team found a robust culture within Athletics that is exemplary of the values we seek to uphold at Northwestern. Their diligent examination of the Athletics culture is an instrumental part of our path towards continuous improvement, and we are committed to implementing their recommendations.”

Current Northwestern athletic director Derrick Gragg said in a statement “the Department of Athletics and Recreation takes the findings of the review seriously and is eager to apply these lessons towards enhancing our programs and support systems.” Gragg was recently named VP for Athletic Strategy, and a national search is underway to find his replacement. Gragg will remain in his current role until his successor is named.

“Our top priority is providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes, both academically and athletically,” Gragg said in his statement. “We cannot do this without being open to continuous learning and improvement.”