Thread by @brianmmunoz

Last January I reported on a tip about Ted Grace, current #SIUC Student Health Center director, being named in a lawsuit against @OhioState. The lawsuit alleges he failed to protect students from sexual abuse by an OSU doctor in the late 1990s.

dailyegyptian.com/90701/news/law…

@OhioState After 100+ survivors came forward, Ohio State hired an independent investigator @PerkinsCoieLLP to look at the case. After a year long investigation, a report released by OSU details acts of sexual abuse against at least 177 former students by Dr. Richard Strauss from '78-'98.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP Southern Illinois University was aware of the allegations but declined to comment in January. Grace also declined to comment at the time, citing his attorney's advice.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP During a recent press conference, Ohio Gov. @MikeDeWine, was asked a series of questions about the case – including questions of statute of limitations. DeWine said in rape cases, he believed the limitations should be removed entirely.

"I feel very strongly about it," he said.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine DeWine said there the initial allegations should be referred to law enforcement. "This is a problem that is not unique to this case," DeWine said. "There has been a culture [...] about certain places if there's a sexual assault they are handled [with] and not reported to police."

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine He further says if there is someone who knew about a felony and did not reporting, that becomes a separate crime.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine The @OhioState's final report can be viewed here: accessibility.osu.edu/files/final-re…

There were additional findings in an investigation into the State Medical Board of Ohio launched by Ohio Governor @MikeDeWine.

governor.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov…

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine “I have deep concerns that there could be other cases similar to this one – cases where there was clear evidence of criminal misconduct, but that evidence was ignored,” DeWine said a statement.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine "The working group also noted an 'astounding failure' of anyone in a position of authority at the university to initiate a medical board or criminal investigation into Strauss’ conduct," according to the statement.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine The medical board investigation identified physicians in 1996 who may have failed to report Strauss. The board was found to not have pursued action against those individual physicians for allegedly disregarding their statutory obligation to notify the board or law enforcement.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine "For decades, physicians and others alike had the opportunity to report Strauss to the Medical Board and to law enforcement," the report states. "Still, none of the physicians working with Strauss found occasion to report him to the Medical Board or to law enforcement..."

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine In short, the report shows the medical board ignored evidence about the doctor's abuse. @MikeDeWine has asked the medical board to identify whether there are any licensed Ohio doctors who knew or suspected Strauss' misconduct and should have reported it but didn't.

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine Grace continues to be employed at @SIUC.

Full Medical Board investigation report: governor.ohio.gov/wps/wcm/connec…

@OhioState @PerkinsCoieLLP @MikeDeWine @SIUC Also follow @JennSmola and the @DispatchAlerts folks for reporting out of Ohio, @TheSouthern and @DailyEgyptian teams for reporting out of Carbondale. Local journalism matters. Support your newspapers.