Hmmm...not good.
Ohio State team doctor sexually abused 177 students over decades, report finds
According to the report, the school “had knowledge” of sexually abusive treatment from Strauss as early as 1979, “but reports about Strauss' conduct were not elevated beyond the Athletics Department or Student Health until 1996."
Strauss died in 2005.
Wednesday's announcement came one day after Ohio State announced it had reached a $5.8 million settlement with 23 additional survivors of Strauss' abuse, bringing the total of survivors who have settled with the university to 185. In a statement released by the university on Tuesday, Ohio State said it “continues to participate in good faith in the mediation process with the survivors involved in the remaining lawsuits, and remains committed to a resolution with plaintiffs, including a monetary resolution.”
“The university has condemned Strauss’ reprehensible conduct and expressed its appreciation to survivors for coming forward,” Ohio State president Kristina M. Johnson said Tuesday. “Our work toward restorative justice continues.”
An independent investigation commissioned by the university in 2018 found that Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005, abused at least 177 students during his 20-year tenure at Ohio State from 1978 to 1998. Of the 177 victims identified by that investigation, 153 were athletes, including 48 athletes from the wrestling team, 16 from gymnastics, 15 from swimming and diving, 13 from soccer team, 10 from lacrosse, seven each from hockey, track and field and baseball teams, four each from cross country, volleyball and fencing teams, three each from tennis and football teams and two each from cheerleading and golf teams.
The survivors who are asking the NCAA and Big Ten to step in, however, have not settled with the university and believe the university's investigation and subsequent actions have been insufficient.
“We're three years in with this, and nothing has been done, and the public is being convinced that stuff is being done behind the scenes when it really isn't,” said Mike Schyck, a former Ohio State wrestler, during a news conference on Wednesday. “Yeah, there was a group that settled, but that's peanuts compared to the precedent that's been set.”
Scott Smith, another attorney representing survivors, said the survivors are not looking for the NCAA and the Big Ten to issue specific penalties against Ohio State, but for the NCAA and the Big Ten to conduct their own investigation so that they know it is separate from Ohio State. The survivors are also asking the Big Ten to direct a share of conference revenue to victims of Strauss' sexual abuse.
Just sayin': It's all about the money now.
