Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois has been to a long list of American universities to face a scandal in athletics and may join the trend of making large payouts following allegations of sexual abuse.
The lawsuit was filed by a former Wildcats football player against Pat Fitzgerald and members of the school’s leadership. The athlete, seeking damages stemming from a hazing scandal that cost the former football coach his job.
Other schools that have faced sexual-related scandals in athletes include the University of Michigan and a financial payout of $490 million for 1,000 people who say they were sexually abused by the late sports doctor Robert Anderson.
Ohio State University, Darmouth College, Michigan State University, Baylor University and Penn State University also faced lawsuits and hefty settlements in millions of dollars.
In 2020, Ohio State agreed to more than $46 million in settlements for more than 185 people who alleged sexual abuse from team doctor Richard Strauss.
Darthmouth College settled a federal lawsuit for $14 million with nine women who sued the school over allegations that it ignored years of harassment and assault by former psychology department professors.
Michigan State made a $500 million agreement in 2018 to settle claims of more than 300 women and girls who said they were assaulted by Larry Nassar, who also was a doctor for USA Gymnastics.
Baylor University settled a federal Title IX lawsuit in 2018 that was brought by a former volleyball player who alleged that she was drugged and gang-raped by at least four football players in 2012. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Penn State paid out more than $100 million in 2017 to more than 40 people who said they were sexually abused by former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.