Members of The Daily’s editorial board sat down with University President Morton Schapiro last week to discuss topics pertinent to the Northwestern community, including Mike Polisky’s resignation, the announcement of diverse hiring commitments and the new search for athletic director. University spokesperson Jeri Ward was present. This interview was lightly edited for clarity and brevity. .
Nine days after his official announcement as Northwestern’s next athletic director, Mike Polisky resigned from the position Wednesday night and will be departing the University. “Over the last 10 days, it has become clear to me that the current challenges will not allow me to effectively lead our department, especially during these unsettling times in.
Over 200 Northwestern faculty, staff, students, alumni and Evanston community members marched Friday to protest the appointment of Mike Polisky as the University’s next athletic director. Faculty members, who organized the protest and signed a Wednesday letter, gave speeches at The Rock, before attendees walked up Sheridan Road to picket in front of University President.
Ringing cowbells, clanging pots, pans and bowls and playing music from speakers, about 75 students gathered on the steps of Deering Library Saturday to protest in solidarity with Northwestern cheerleaders and for police abolition.
The NU Community Not Cops action came just a day after NU and Evanston community members marched to University President Morton Schapiro’s house to protest the appointment of Mike Polisky as the University’s next athletic director.
Polisky was named as a defendant in a sexual harassment case filed in January by a member of NU’s cheerleading team, and members of the team also claimed in a February Daily investigation that Polisky did not appropriately respond to anti-Black racism.
Former cheerleader Erika Carter (SESP ‘18)
posted the petition, which had about 550 signatures as of Thursday night. The petition came after some community controversy around Polisky’s appointment due to his handling of complaints about harassment and discrimination.
In January, Weinberg senior Hayden Richardson filed a federal lawsuit that named Polisky as a defendant. The lawsuit alleged that Polisky did not allow Richardson to meet with former Athletic Director Jim Phillips about complaints regarding sexual exploitation of cheerleaders, and accused her of “fabricating evidence.” In a February Daily investigation, sources also claimed that Polisky did not adequately handle allegations of racial discrimination within the cheerleading program.