Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeSchoolsOhio State University Hit With Another Lawsuit Over Strauss Abuse

Ohio State University Hit With Another Lawsuit Over Strauss Abuse

-

Lawsuits are piling up over Ohio State University’s handling of sexual abuse complaints against Dr. Richard Strauss. On Wednesday, 37 former students, mostly football players and wrestlers, filed a lawsuit, the fourth one in the last two years against the university over its response to sexual assault complaints against the former doctor.

According to The New York Times, the civil rights lawsuit alleges that university officials “aided, abetted and actively concealed” complaints of sexual misconduct against Strauss.

The suit mentions the name of Billy Hill, a university athletic trainer who often dismissed the allegations when students complained about Strauss’ inappropriate conduct. Hill died as a result of a heart attack in 1995.

“Now that some football players have come forward, from my perspective, this has gotten a lot more eyes and a lot more interest,” Michael L. Wright, one of the lawyers who filed the lawsuit, told The New York Times.

The suit comes approximately one week after the university released a report from independent investigators, confirming that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 former students during his employment at the university from 1978 to 1998.

Investigators from Perkins Coie further confirmed that university officials had information about Strauss’ misconduct as early in 1979, but did not investigate his actions and failed to report his misconduct to law enforcement.

“On behalf of the university, we offer our profound regret and sincere apologies to each person who endured Strauss’ abuse,” Ohio State president Michael V. Drake wrote in a message to the community after releasing the report.

“Our institution’s fundamental failure at the time to prevent this abuse was unacceptable — as were the inadequate efforts to thoroughly investigate complaints raised by students and staff members.”

Earlier this month, three members of the wrestling team and two other patients sued the university for not doing enough to prevent incidents of sexual assault from taking place on campus.

Michigan State University Pays Off $500 Million in Nassar Settlement

You Might Also Like

Latest Posts

13 Best College Traditions in the US to Ignite School Spirit

From quirky practices, festival-esque activities, and food-filled events, check out this round up of the best college traditions across the US.

12 Best Books for College Students: 2024 Must-Reads

Boost academic progress with the best books for college students, ranging from self-help to thought-provoking fiction and tips to make a lasting reading habit.

These 10 US Colleges Offer Awesome Work-Study Programs

Work-study programs aren't just about easing your financial load — they're backstage passes to real-world experiences, skill-building, and building meaningful connections.