Can you say "systemic?"
Case I: Former U-M provost Martin Philbert sexually
harassed multiple people over two decades throughout his entire career at the University while rising in ranks from professor to dean to provost, the head of the office that oversees cases of gender-based violence.
University officials, including President Mark Schlissel, knew of the rumors, now proven true, circulating about Philbert’s misconduct and failed to launch investigations until the 2018-2019 school year.
Case II: More than 150 survivors have come forward,
filing individual lawsuits and a class-action lawsuit, against the University in response to the University’s handling of sexual abuse of students by former athletic doctor Robert E. Anderson dating back to the 1960s. The University has
received over 460 complaints against Anderson. Worst of all, former football coach Bo Schembechler and former athletic director Don Canham
allegedly knew about Anderson’s actions and failed to do anything in response at the time. Anderson worked until his retirement in 2003, despite being demoted for his behavior in 1979.
Case III: The Michigan Daily
uncovered 40 years of harassment and sexual misconduct allegations against Stephen Shipps, School of Music, Theatre & Dance faculty member.
Case IV: Employees at Clinc, an artificial intelligence start-up,
made allegations of sexual misconduct against Jason Mars, Clinc’s CEO and professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University; some faculty wrote a statement calling for Mars to take a leave of absence. He taught an undergraduate course during the Winter 2021 semester.
Case V: In 2019, the University
conducted a survey on sexual misconduct. Critical results
include: 12.4% of women and 1.7% of men experience rape on campus; 20.4% of women and 4.2% of men experience nonconsensual sexual touching on campus; 34.3% of undergraduate women remain most at risk for experiencing nonconsensual touching and penetration on campus; 17% of undergraduates, and 26.4% of women, experience unwanted kissing and sexual touching prior to coming to the University; 6.7% of undergraduates, and 10.6% of women, experience unwanted penetration or oral sex prior to coming to the University. Marginalized groups, including women, transgender students, genderqueer or nonbinary students and students with disabilities, are the most at risk for experiencing unwanted sexual behaviors (stalking, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence and rape).
Case VI: English professor Douglas Trevor cannot conduct undergraduate office hours with his door closed nor hold U-M leadership positions for two years in light of
allegations of harassment.
Case VII: The University placed EECS professor Peter Chen on administrative leave following
criminal charges for sexual misconduct with a minor.
