In his first public statement in more than a week, Northwestern University President Michael Schill announced a series of steps intended to prevent hazing and bullying in the school’s athletic programs Tuesday.

These steps follow a week of high-profile turnover in NU’s athletic department. Schill relieved former football head coach Pat Fitzgerald of his duties last week after details of widespread hazing within the football program became public. 

Schill also fired Jim Foster, NU’s head baseball coach, later last week after he was accused of creating a hostile environment for players and coaches. 

Schill said that original sanctions announced in the original executive summary — including monitoring the football locker room and establishing an online reporting system for athletic complaints — are not the last measures he plans to take. The president said he will work with the Board of Trustees, faculty and other university constituents to implement additional steps to prevent hazing and bullying throughout NU’s athletic departments. 

Schill said the University will also be engaging an outside firm to review its current accountability protocols, which include the Committee on Athletics and Recreation. 

The Athletic Department reviewed and issued decisions about complaints of both hazing in the football program and bullying in the baseball program that did not result in personnel firings prior to last week. This review will fulfill a request by the Faculty Senate to look into the committee’s practices. 

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