CAPA Criticizes Northwestern's Objections To Unionizing Effort In Filing

The College Athletes Players Association, which is seeking to represent Northwestern Univ. football players, "called the school's position in the case 'a castle built on sand' in a document" filed yesterday with the NLRB. The filing was "in response to Northwestern's appeal" of last month's ruling by NLRB Regional Dir Peter Sung Ohr. The union contended that Ohr’s decision was "carefully reasoned," adding that the school’s "accusations were unfounded and that many of the supposed errors and omissions the university attributes to Ohr do not qualify for review under NLRB rules" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/17).

Meanwhile, NU professor of sociology and legal studies Laura Beth Nielsen said of the unionizing effort, "What it means for the athletic department and the greater economics of the school, I don't think anyone knows exactly. But no one is ambivalent" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/17).