CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Newly-appointed Northwestern University athletic director Mike Polisky announced Tuesday he is resigning and leaving the university.
The decision follows protests by students and faculty over concerns that Polisky failed to take seriously accusations regarding sexual harassment and racism related to the University's cheerleaders.
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Polisky is named as a defendant in a federal lawsuit filed this year by a Northwestern senior and former cheerleader. The lawsuit claimed Polisky did not appropriately address complaints about sexual harassment.
Polisky said in a statement, “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 college athletics.
"My love and respect for Northwestern and for our student-athletes, coaches and staff, is greater than my own desire to lead the department. I do not want to be a distraction to our incredible men and women as they pursue a collective goal – to help our student-athletes become the best they can be. While my family and I are disappointed, I move forward knowing this is the right decision," the statement concluded.
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro named Northwestern linguistics professor Robert Gundlach as interim athletic director until a new, permanent athletic director is named.
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