According to alleged victims of former University of Michigan sports physician Robert Anderson, the school knew of the allegations for more than a year and a half before going public with them.

What Are the Allegations Being Made Against the University of Michigan Ann Arbor?

In July 2018, university officials opened an investigation into its former athletic doctor following allegations made by a former student, Robert  S., who claimed that Anderson had abused him during medical exams in the 1970s.

However, school officials did not reach out to other potential victims until February, when it announced that a hotline would be opened for anyone with information about Anderson to speak with investigators. In the first two days, more than 30 people called to provide information, according to the Detroit Free Press.

As of April, more than 250 complaints had been made against Anderson, many of them through the hotline. Since the initial allegations, several other former student-athletes have accused the now-deceased doctor of abusing them between the 1960s and 1990s.

In addition to investigating these claims, the University of Michigan Ann Arbor has also reached out to some 6,800 former student-athletes who may have had contact with Anderson during his time at the school.

Some sexual abuse victims don’t think the university has done enough to protect students or investigate potential abuse cases.

According to former student-athlete and sexual abuse victim Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publically accuse former Michigan State University sports physician Larry Nassar of abuse, the 19 months of silence from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor were a missed opportunity. In an interview with the Associated Press a few days after Michigan went public with the allegations, Denhollander said that the school “had the choice 19 months ago to do the right thing and become leaders. They chose corruption — again — and they put the survivors in a place where they had no choice but to speak publicly.”

How Did the University Respond to the Allegations?

According to university officials, the 19-month gap between learning of the allegations and making them public was due to the ongoing investigation. University spokesman Rick Fitzgerald responded to queries from The Detroit News by saying school officials “made a decision to wait on any additional outreach until the prosecutor made a decision on a criminal charge. We would never want to do anything that would interfere with a police investigation.”

This sentiment was echoed by Jesse Johnson, the police records and evidence manager at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. In January, Johnson refused to provide Robert S. a copy of his own report, telling him that it could not be released until the investigation was completed.  Fearing the university might keep the investigation open indefinitely in order to continue to suppress the allegations, Robert S. went to The Detroit News with his story. Following inquiries made by the newspaper, the university went public with Robert’s allegations against Anderson in February.

Was the Faculty Aware of Sexual Abuse?

While it is not known whether any University of Michigan Ann Arbor officials or faculty were explicitly aware of the abuse before Robert S. came forward, Fitzgerald, the university spokesman, told The Detroit News that the investigation indicated that some people may have suspected Anderson’s misconduct.

“It is our understanding from the police investigation that there were rumors and some indication that UM staff members were aware of Dr. Anderson’s inappropriate medical exams,” he said.

A former student says that he complained to the university’s health service after being assaulted by Anderson during an exam in 1968. According to the man, he filed a complaint after Anderson removed his pants and asked the student to touch him. The former student claims that no one at the health service reached out to him after he made the complaint, and he never followed up.

Additionally, there are indications that university officials or faculty may have known about other abuse perpetrated by other university officials, including a former music, theatre and dance professor, as well as a former university provost. In these cases, records indicate that Michigan faculty members may have voiced concerns about these people years before they were fired or placed on leave and investigated.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor Sexual Misconduct Policy

According to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor sexual misconduct policy, all faculty and staff are now required to complete at least one online module about how to cultivate a culture of respect and be aware of potential sexual misconduct. Students and staff are also encouraged to partake in additional sexual misconduct training, including bystander training. Some faculty and staff roles at the university have been designated “Responsible Employees,” and are required to report suspected misconduct or assault to the university’s Office for Institutional Equity. The university has also published a webpage detailing the reporting process for students and faculty, including resources and a flowchart.

How to File a University of Michigan Lawsuit

According to an April 24 Fox Business report, more than 100 people claiming to be victims of Dr. Anderson may be pursuing a lawsuit against the University of Michigan Ann Arbor stemming from the doctor’s misconduct. Approximately 20 notices of intent to sue have been filed by alleged victims claiming that the university failed to investigate their claims of abuse.

If you went to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor and were abused by Dr. Robert Anderson, you may qualify to hire an experienced attorney to represent you in a University of Michigan lawsuit. Victims who pursue litigation may be able to receive compensation for their experiences and pain and suffering.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.