The University of Virginia says there is now an active police investigation to look into harassment and hazing allegations made by former wide receiver Aidan Howard.
Howard filed a federal civil rights lawsuit on Oct. 14 alleging that the school "fostered a culture of bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination" and that teammates forced him to fight another player on the team following practice as part of an "initiation."
"The University of Virginia places a high priority on the safety and well-being of every member of its community. Specifically, as it relates to Mr. Howard's legal filing, UVA is conducting a thorough investigation that involves several steps in the fact-finding process," university deputy spokesman Matt Charles told ESPN.