ACC’s Phillips: Never ever condoned hazing at NU
Jul 20, 2023, 07:46 PM ET
Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner Jim Phillips says he never “condoned or endured improper conduct” versus athletes as Northwestern’s athletic director in the wake of claims of hazing at that school, which have actually caused at least 3 suits and the shooting of football coach Pat Fitzgerald.Phillips has actually been called as a defendant for 2 of the lawsuits along with other university leaders in their oversight roles. The first problem came Wednesday from a previous football player determined as “John Doe 2,”followed by another by” John Doe 3 “on Thursday.
“This has actually been a challenging time for the Northwestern University community, a place that my entire family called house,” Phillips stated in a declaration Thursday. “Over my 30-year career in intercollegiate athletics, my highest concern has always been the health and safety of all student-athletes.
Editor’s Picks
2 Related
“Hazing is completely undesirable anywhere, and my heart goes out to anybody who brings the problem of having been mistreated. Any allegation that I ever condoned or endured unsuitable conduct versus student-athletes is definitely incorrect. I will vigorously safeguard myself versus any idea to the contrary.”
The John Doe plaintiffs who have called Phillips as an offender were members of the football team from 2018 to 2022, which overlaps with the final years of Phillips’ period before he changed retiring John Swofford as ACC commissioner.Each complaint alleges”
longstanding concerns involving hazing and bullying that handles a sexual and/or racist tone “and implicates Fitzgerald of enabling” a culture of bigotry and/or other microaggressions “on the football team. Attorneys have actually stated misbehavior reached other sports as well.The very first claim was filed Tuesday by a previous Northwestern football player, though that complaint didn’t call Phillips as a defendant.The ACC will hold its preseason football media days next week in Charlotte, North Carolina. Phillips is set up to hold his yearly commissioner’s online forum Tuesday morning.