Northwestern athletics accused of fostering a "toxic culture" amid hazing scandal

Northwestern University's athletics department fostered an abusive culture, former football players and their attorneys said Wednesday amid a hazing scandal that has rocked the private Chicago university and led to the firing of the school's longtime football coach, Pat Fitzgerald, last week.

In a news conference Wednesday, prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump said he is representing more than 15 former male and female Northwestern athletes regarding allegations of hazing that "goes into other sports programs" beyond football. Crump said his law firm has spoken with more than 50 former Northwestern athletes.

"It is apparent to us that it is a toxic culture that was rampant in the athletic department at Northwestern University," Crump told reporters.