Former Cheerleader Says Northwestern Made Her Act Like a ‘Courtesan’ at Fundraisers

A former cheerleader for Northwestern University said she was “treated like a sex object” at school fundraising events. Hayden Richardson, 22, filed a lawsuit against the school, alleging that she was forced to interact with donors who sexually harassed and groped her. She says she and fellow cheerleaders were encouraged to act like “temptresses and courtesans.” Richardson, who cheered for the Wildcats from 2018 to 2020, says her complaints to school officials weren’t taken seriously.