Northwestern fires Fitzgerald, but questions still remain

Unfortunately, the choice got here too late and does not take away the stain of the preliminary punishment. 

It took graphic particulars in The Daily Northwestern and subsequent public outcry for officers to rethink Fitzgerald’s punishment and do what was applicable.

When initially suspending Fitzgerald for 2 weeks — a ridiculous punishment for a coach through the offseason — the college stated it had no proof coaches knew in regards to the hazing.

The nameless participant interviewed by The Daily referred to as that into query and ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg corroborated the report by saying ESPN obtained photos “a screenshot of a whiteboard” within the group’s locker room relaying among the identical info present in The Daily’s bombshell article. 

It made little sense that Fitzgerald would not know what was happening and even much less for Northwestern to imagine he was ignorant as to what was taking place but still discover him able to main the soccer program.

Either he knowingly allowed the conduct to happen or had no management over the locker room. Neither is an effective look.

Northwestern tacking on the bit about Fitzgerald being answerable for a “culture enabling racism” can be unusual contemplating there was no point out of racism within the government abstract of the college’s hazing investigation.

Since the primary punishment was leveed, three gamers got here ahead and spoke with The Daily about their experiences with racism as non-white gamers on the group.

Was the college’s first investigation completed so poorly it did not unearth the racist tradition throughout the program? Or was it simply not taken significantly till it turned public data? Again, neither choice is nice.

Both level to deeper institutional issues at Northwestern than simply Fitzgerald. He wanted to be fired but for these considering that is the tip of the Wildcats drawback, properly, that is precisely what Northwestern would need us to assume.