In a second wave of outreach, the University of Michigan will send a message to more than 300,000 former students asking them to share information that may be helpful to an independent investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct by the late Robert E. Anderson.
MORE INFORMATION
- Anderson investigation call center: 855-336-5900, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT.
- Contact the WilmerHale team directly at 877-428-9667 or [email protected].
This week, the university is reaching out to all former students who were on campus between the mid-1960s and early 2000s, asking them to speak with investigators from the WilmerHale law firm if they experienced sexual abuse or sexual misconduct by Anderson or have information they believe may be relevant to the investigation.
Anderson was a physician on the Ann Arbor campus and a team physician for student-athletes from the mid-1960s until the early 2000s. He died in 2008.
A similar letter sent in April to former student-athletes during the same time period was signed by Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. The new message to the broader group of former students is signed by President Mark Schlissel.
The university will send an email message to all students who attended the university during that time frame for whom it has a valid email address. That’s about 189,000 former students. A letter also will be sent this week through the U.S. Postal Service to an additional 125,000 former students from that time frame.
In the letter, the president asks former students to reach out to WilmerHale investigators “if you had any experience with Anderson you wish to report or if you have any other information you believe may be relevant.”
The letter also says the law firm is conducting an independent investigation of the allegations about Anderson and will follow the facts wherever they lead.
“When it completes its investigation, WilmerHale will issue a public report. The report will include a full accounting of Anderson’s conduct, a discussion of any institutional failings that may have allowed him to harm others, and recommendations for preventing what Anderson is alleged to have done from happening ever again. The university will not influence or interfere with the investigation, nor will the university receive WilmerHale’s report until it is released to the public,” the president’s letter says.
The university has established a dedicated call center for the Anderson investigation at 855-336-5900. The call center is staffed Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. EDT. The WilmerHale team also may be contacted directly at 877-428-9667 or [email protected].
Additionally, U-M is offering free, confidential counseling to individuals affected by Anderson’s conduct through Praesidium, a national leader in abuse prevention with extensive experience facilitating survivor support services. Individuals who want access to free, confidential counseling may contact Praesidium at 888-961-9273 to learn more about how to connect with counseling resources in their local area.
