About - Spotlight Michigan

What Happened?

The University Knew of Decades of
Abuse But Did Nothing to Address It

DR. ROBERT E. ANDERSON

Dr. Anderson was the Director of University Health Service and a top physician for the football teams under head coaches Bo Schembechler and Lloyd Carr. 1

FEBRUARY 2020 REPORT

A February 2020 report released by FOIA request made clear the university knew of decades of abuse but did nothing to address it.

THREE DAYS BEFORE THE REPORT’S RELEASE

Robert Julian Stone, a UM alumnus, and several other alleged victims went to the police with allegations of molestation during appointments with Anderson in June of 1971.

However, when asked, prosecutors said they completed their review and no charges were recommended. 2

THE FOLLOWING DAY

The university set up a hotline to collect information. 3

FLASHBACK TO JULY 2018

The documents indicate UM officials received a letter from a former student and wrestler in July 2018 who had been molested by Anderson in the 1970s, but the report languished in a staff member’s “work pile” at the Office of Institutional Equity for two and a half months before being given to police to investigate.

Police then aggressively investigated the allegations, only to have them go months without a review by prosecutors, documents show. 4

FAST FORWARD TO 2003

Anderson continued to work for the University of Michigan until his retirement in 2003, 28 more years after initial reports of sexual abuse. The University even acquired Anderson's private practice in 1995.

Anderson died in 2008. 5

TODAY

Over 850 victims have come forward and at least 6 people say they notified the university officials of Anderson’s behavior including Schembechler and former Athletic Director Don Canaham.

Anderson’s victims were sexually abused in severe manners that were repeated over multiple episodes. 6

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