Catherwood LibraryILR School

True to its statement last week, Northwestern University has filed a brief with the five-member board of the National Labor Relations Board requesting a review of the decision by the Chicago regional director. The University has claimed that the decision was unprecedented, ignored past precedent, and could threaten the larger organization of collegiate varsity sports. Former N.L.R.B. chairperson Wilma Liebman said that she believes that the Board is likely to choose to review the decision given the uniqueness and the publicity of the case. On Tuesday, the executive director of the N.F.L. union, DeMaurice Smith, published his support for the Northwestern football players in an article in the Huffington Post. In addition, late last week, the Northwestern Coach, Pat Fitzgerald, spoke to his players explaining why he believed they should not vote to unionize.