Northwestern’s Hazing Scandal

Former Northwestern football player Lloyd Yates speaks Wednesday, July 19, 2023, alongside other former players, from left, Warren Miles Long, Tom Carnifax, and Simba Short about the abuse and hazing they say occurred in the program. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune / Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Officially, hazing is illegal and unwelcome just about everywhere you turn. However, it continues as an open secret in far too many fraternities, sports teams, and other institutions.

The latest revelations from Northwestern University’s football team are a stark reminder that we have a long way to go to uproot the culture of hazing for good. Anti–gender violence activist and documentarian Byron Hurt joins Edge of Sports for a timely discussion on the harm hazing does and how we can stop it.

Also on this episode of Edge of Sports, Dr. Neftalie Williams joins us in our Ask a Sports Scholar segment to discuss the uniqueness and global influence of skateboarding.

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Dave Zirin

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is also the coproducer and writer of the new documentary Behind the Shield: The Power and Politics of the NFL.

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