More than 100 erstwhile students of the Ohio State University have stepped forward with sexual misconduct accusations against a former team doctor.
University President Michael V. Drake said that over 200 former students and university employees have been interviewed by Perkins Coie which is a law firm, tasked by the university to look into the sexual abuse claims against Richard Strauss. According to sources, the alleged sexual abuse spanned from 1979 to 1997.
"We are grateful to those who have come forward and remain deeply concerned for anyone who may have been affected by Dr. Strauss' actions. We remain steadfastly committed to uncovering the truth," Drake said in a statement.
Strauss served numerous roles in his 20-year stint with the Buckeyes, which included being a team doctor for more than a decade. He died in 2005 after committing suicide.
Jordan Denies Claims
Ohio Representative Jim Jordan who was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1987 to 1995 denied the allegations that he knew about the sexual advances of Strauss. Six former coaches and 15 wrestlers have come to the defense of the United States congressman.
According to a former Ohio wrestler, he told Jordan about the inappropriate behavior of Strauss. Other wrestlers added that Jordan must have known about the sexual advances of Strauss most especially since they discussed it in the locker room while he was present.
Just this week, two class-action lawsuits were filed against Ohio State in federal court by four former university wrestlers. The lawsuit claimed that at least 1,500 students were abused from the 1980s to 1990s.
Not Only Athletes
Aside from allegedly abusing former athletes of 14 different sports, Strauss was also accused of inappropriate behavior by former patients of the Student Health Services. Reports say that Strauss has allegedly abused patients at an off-campus medical office he put together in 1996. The school said that the victims might include a number of high school students.
Currently, Ohio State has a single record of a documented complaint against Strauss. Ex-student Steve Snyder-Hill filed a complaint against Strauss in 1995 for inappropriate touching during a physical exam.
Former Ohio State tennis player Enrico Sartori revealed that the physical examinations of Strauss made him feel uncomfortable. Sartori who now works as a neurologist in Puerto Rico added that Strauss' examination lasts a little too long on the genital area of the male athletes.
To avoid re-traumatizing the victims, the investigators have contacted just 115,000 alumni which include former athletes. The Ohio State University added that they plan to get in touch with 147,000 more people.
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