A former Northwestern football player filed the first lawsuit against Pat Fitzgerald and members of the schools leadership, seeking damages stemming from a hazing scandal that cost the former football coach his job.

The player, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, alleged Tuesday in the Cook County Court in Chicago that Fitzgerald, Northwestern University President Michael Schill, the board of trustees and athletic director Derrick Gragg enabled and concealed sexual misconduct and racial discrimination.

The player, who was on the football team from 2018 to 2022, had his filing submitted by the Chicago-based Salvi Law Firm.

It wasnt just confined to one bad actor, attorney Parker Stinar said in an interview with The Associated Press. It wasnt just confined to one team, like the football team. It also included a culture that was accepted and tolerated and encouraged on the baseball team and other sports teams, and also with men and womens sports.

So, its a tainted athletic department.

The lawsuit allegations include naked players in locker rooms forcing freshmen to also strip naked and then perform various acts. It also accuses Fitzgerald of enabling a culture of racism, including forcing players of color to cut their hair and behave differently to be more in line with the Wildcat Way.

Northwestern spokesperson Jon Yates said the schools policy is to not comment on the specifics of pending litigation.