2021-05-13

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Thursday, May 13, 2021

ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS OF EDITORIAL FREEDOM

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michigandaily.com

U-M athletic department implicated in Anderson sexual misconduct report

NEWS

COVID Rescue Fund

JOSH TAUBMAN AND MAX WADLEY

Former owner helps support struggling small businesses >> SEE PAGE 2

Summer Managing Sports Editors

OPINION

College Experience Students experience college without the physical component >> SEE PAGE 5

Courtesy of Evan Aaron The Michigan athletic department was implicated in WilmerHale’s sexual misconduct report against Dr. Anderson. JARETT ORR/Daily The lawfirm WilmerHale found “no doubt” that hundreds of the allegations were credible.

MiCHIGAN IN COLOR

Makeup Shades Major makeup companies need to make shades for others to be comfortable to wear >> SEE PAGE 6

ARTS

Build a Problem

British singer-songwriter Dodie’s first full-length album covers everything she’s done

>> SEE PAGE 8

SPORTS

Spencer Heslop

Michigan’s wheelchair tennis player chooses faith while facing challenges >> SEE PAGE 13

INDEX Vol. CXXIX, No. 112 © 2020 The Michigan Daily

NEWS .................................... 2 OPINION................................ 4 MiC......................................... 6 ARTS..................................... 8 STATEMENT..........................10 SPORTS.................................12

Independent report finds 37 years of sexual abuse by former U-M doctor Robert Anderson

MARTHA LEWAND AND JUSTIN O’BEIRNE Daily Staff Reporters

Editor’s Note: The following article contains potentially triggering accounts and mentions of sexual assault The law firm WilmerHale released a report on Tuesday summarizing their year-long investigation of sexual abuse allegations against Dr. Robert Anderson, finding “no doubt” that hundreds of allegations against Anderson are credible and represent a devastating pattern of misconduct The report tells of Anderson’s misconduct, awareness of Anderson’s misconduct at the University, and recommendations for the University “to help prevent, identify, investigate, and respond to the kind of misconduct in which Dr. Anderson engaged.” Anderson was first hired as a physician at University Health System (UHS) in 1966, and was promoted to UHS director from 1968 until 1980, when he resigned from his position as director but remained a physician at UHS. In 1981, Anderson transferred to the athletic department, where he remained a physician until 1999. Anderson remained at the University as a faculty member

until 2003. WilmerHale outlined three main goals in their report: to “investigate the nature and scope of any misconduct by Dr Anderson as a University employee”, to “determine who at the University knew or should have known about such misconduct and what was done to address it” and to “recommend measures the University should take to help prevent, detect and address such misconduct in the future.” More than 300 patients told WilmerHale about Anderson’s misconduct in multiple positions he held during his 37-year tenure at the University. More than 200 current and former U-M employees were interviewed for the investigation. WilmerHale additionally hired medical experts to better understand relevant standards of care, as well as social science experts to better understand how and why reports of sexual misconduct may not be noticed in institutional and medical settings. WilmerHale wrote that the investigation was completely independent from the University, and that no person or department at the University sought to interfere, influence or impede the investigation. They also said that they are fully confident in the patterns of abuse revealed in the

investigation because of certain behaviors and details that were consistent across all interviewed patients. The investigation outlined how exactly Anderson typically engaged in misconduct: conducting invasive procedures that patients “perceived as unnecessary, performed inappropriately, or both” under the guise of legitimate medical treatment. “For example, approximately one hundred patients described inappropriate prostate or rectal examinations; nearly 150 patients detailed inappropriate hernia and/or genital examinations; and a half-dozen patients told us about inappropriate breast and/or pelvic examinations,” the report said Victims of Anderson’s misconduct experienced various appalling forms of sexual abuse, as reported to WilmerHale and DPSS. In 1965 or 1966, one patient was instructed to “‘strip down’” and “perform jumping jacks while naked.” Following the jumping jacks, Anderson inappropriately performed a prostate exam and “‘stroked’ the patient’s penis until he ejaculated.” After the patient ejaculated, Anderson said, “Nice color.” Read more at michigandaily.com

The law firm WilmerHale released an independent investigation report detailing the allegations of sexual misconduct against former University of Michigan physician Robert Anderson on Tuesday. In the 240-page report, former Wolverine football coach Bo Schembechler was mentioned 10 times. According to the document, numerous former student athletes on the football team approached Schembechler with serious concerns about Anderson’s behavior. One former student athlete questioned Schembechler about Dr. Anderson’s methods but according to the student athlete, Schembechler told him to “toughen up.” The student athlete told the UM Department of Public Safety and Security (DPSS) that “you do not mess with Bo, and the matter was dropped.” Another former student athlete told DPSS that, “his position coach used the threat of an examination with Dr. Anderson as a motivational tool. (WilmerHale) interviewed the coach, who denied the allegation.” The failure of the Athletic Department to protect students from abuse by those in authority goes beyond the football team. A former track athlete alleged that former coaches Jack Harvey and Ron Warhurst both “‘laughed’ and refused” when the student asked to see another physician after Anderson “(groped) his genitals.” Both Harvey and Warhurst deny the allegation. Read more at michigandaily.com


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