The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has taken a lead to investigate whether the response of Ohio State University to the allegations and complains of sexual abuse against its former doctor was appropriate or not.
The office of civil rights, which is overseeing the enforcement of Title IX rights, will probe whether the university responded “promptly and equitably” to hundreds of complaints filed by its former students.
Sexual misconduct by former Ohio physician Richard Strauss, who committed suicide in 2005, has been reported by more than 100 former students.
On April 5, the university announced the initiation of the investigation into Strauss after former members of the men’s wrestling team came forward with allegations.
“We responded promptly and appropriately to the allegations received in April about Dr. Strauss. We are confident in the independence and thoroughness of the investigation we launched then as well as our ongoing commitment to transparency,” Vice President Gates Garrity-Rokous said.
“We welcome the involvement and careful oversight of OCR and look forward to providing any information we can,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Ohio State has already talked about the investigation, contacting more than 115,000 alumni and former student-athletes. In addition, it is reaching 147,000 people through university-wide notifications.