After several wrestlers accused a former OSU team doctor, Richard Strauss, of sexual assault or sexual harassment, Ohio State University hired an outside law firm, Perkins Coie, to investigate, according to USA Today. The law firm interviewed 200 former students and staff, reports USA Today. OSU announced that over 100 had been sexually assaulted or harassed by Strauss, according to USA Today.
At least two class action lawsuits have been filed against Ohio State University over sexual abuse allegations against Dr. Strauss, USA Today reports. One of the lawsuits estimates “1,500 to 2,500 male student athletes” were sexually abused by the team doctor, according to USA Today.
OSU has set up a website for former students to learn more about the Perkins Coie investigation of Dr. Strauss’s sexual abuse and to report if they were abused.
CNN reports that additional accusers have come forward against Dr. Strauss to tell their stories publicly. For example:
Brian Garrett told CNN that the late Richard Strauss touched him inappropriately while Garrett was working in the physician’s off-campus clinic in 1996, and that Strauss asked him to watch while he abused one of his patients.