Michigan Investigating Alleged Sex Abuse by Team's Ex-Doctor

Several people have made allegations involving Robert E. Anderson, who died in 2008
By Bob Cronin,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 19, 2020 4:15 PM CST
Michigan Investigating Alleged Sex Abuse by Team's Ex-Doctor
The national anthem is played at Michigan Stadium before a NCAA college football game between Michigan and Army in Ann Arbor last September.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

After an alumnus sent the University of Michigan an essay in July 2018, the school launched an investigation. In "My Michigan Me-too Moment, 1971," Julian Stone had written about being sexually abused in the 1970s during medical exams by Robert E. Anderson, a physician for the school's football team. Investigators now say they have reports from several former students of "sexual misconduct and unnecessary medical exams" by Anderson, the Detroit News reports. They're asking anyone with information about the case to call 866-990-0111. Anderson worked at Michigan from 1968 to 2003 under coaches including Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr, per the Detroit Free Press. He died in 2008.

Most of the allegations date from the 1970s, but at least one is from the 1990s. A lawsuit that eventually was dismissed said a woman who went to Anderson for a pre-employment exam felt violated; that case did not involve the university. Anderson also ran the University Health Service, which is where he saw Stone in 1971. After receiving a report on the investigation from the university, county prosecutors said there's nothing they can do. Not only has Anderson died, they said, but the statute of limitations has run out on any crimes that might have been committed by anyone aiding the doctor. His children dismissed the accusations. "My dad was a beloved doctor at the UM for so many years," Jill Anderson said. "He was very well-respected. Everyone said he treated them with the utmost integrity and care." (An ex-coach at Michigan State was convicted of lying about what she knew of Larry Nassar's abuse of gymnasts.)

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