UM Ignored 'Credible Reports' Of Abuse By Former Doctor: Report

ANN ARBOR, MI — The University of Michigan failed to act on "credible reports" of abuse by a former athletic doctor who was accused of hundreds of sexual assaults involving student-athletes and other students, according to an independent investigation report released Tuesday.

According to the 240-page report, administrators at the University of Michigan knew about sexual assaults of students and student-athletes by Dr. Robert Anderson during his tenure at the school but did not act.

"The University received contemporaneous information about Dr. Anderson’s misconduct
from multiple sources," the law firm wrote in its report. "A senior University administrator was told about Dr. Anderson’s misconduct several times between 1978 or 1979 and 1981 but did not take appropriate action.

"Concerning information was also shared with other University personnel. Although the information these individuals received varied in directness and specificity, Dr. Anderson’s misconduct may have been detected earlier and brought to an end if they had considered, understood, investigated, or elevated what they heard."

The independent investigation was conducted by the law firm WilmerHale, an American law firm with offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia. The law firm spoke with about 200 current and former employees of the university while also collecting more than 2 million documents from archives housed in the University's Bentley Historical Library, according to the report.

The university's board of regents released a statement Tuesday upon the release of the report.

"We will thoughtfully and diligently review and assess the report’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations; and we will work to regain the trust of survivors and to assure that we foster a safe environment for our students, our employees, and our community," the board said in the statement.

Stephen Estey, an attorney representing 75 abuse survivors, said the WilmerHale report confirms what "we already knew."

"It's a sad day for University of Michigan alumni, especially those abused due to the negligent actions of the University," he said.

Anderson worked at UM from 1968-2003. He died in 2008. Hundreds of lawsuits relating to allegations of abuse have been filed against the university by Anderson's victims, many of which include former student-athletes.