The attorney representing eight former University of Iowa football players intends to move forward with a lawsuit against the UI over the alleged racial discrimination and mistreatment they experienced in their time with the Hawkeye program.

Damario Solomon-Simmons, a civil rights attorney in Tulsa, Oklahoma, notified UI general counsel Carroll Reasoner in a letter dated Tuesday. As part of the decision, the players have withdrawn their demands of a settlement. The news was first reported by The Des Moines Register.

On behalf of the eight players — Akrum Wadley, Aaron Mends, Jonathan Parker, Marcel Joly, Maurice Fleming, Reggie Spearman, Kevonte Martin-Manley, and Andre Harris — Solomon-Simmons sent a demand letter to the UI  on Oct. 5 in an attempt to “amicably resolve” matters before filing suit. Solomon-Simmons demanded $20 million worth of compensation and the removal of head football coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, and athletics director Gary Barta.

On Oct. 18, the university responded and denied the monetary and personnel demands. The response also listed the ways the program had been changed to be more welcoming to Black athletes. According to the letter sent by Solomon-Simmons on Tuesday, settlement negotiations had begun following the UI’s response.

“The stories shared by former athletes this summer resulted in a strong commitment to improve,” a UI spokesperson wrote in a comment on Tuesday. “To that end, the University of Iowa continues to work hard to become a more inclusive campus for all students. We appreciate the athletes using their voices, and we are on a positive path forward with our team.

“As has been stated previously, any student-athlete who left the university without obtaining a degree is welcome to return as part of the UI athletics department degree completion program, which provides financial assistance for former student-athletes.”