More than 1,000 former Northwestern athletes have sent an open letter condemning hazing "in any form" while also defending an athletics culture they say is not represented or defined by allegations that surfaced this summer against some of the school's programs.
The letter, obtained by ESPN, is signed by ex-Northwestern athletes in every varsity sport at the school, including 277 football players and four football managers. The athletes felt compelled to speak out following a wave of lawsuits and other allegations outlining widespread problems at the university.
"The allegations being made are troubling and we support the University's efforts to fully investigate these claims," the letter reads.