Former AD Don Canham and Former Wrestling Coach Bill Johannesen Allegedly "Ignored Warning Signs" of Dr. Robert E. Anderson's Abuse
Per Dan Murphy, Attorneys for victims of Dr. Robert E. Anderson have stated that former Athletic Director Don Canham and former Wrestling Coach Bill Johannesen "ignored warning signs" of Dr. Robert E. Anderson's abuse.
This would imply that there was knowledge in the Athletic Department of Anderson's abuse that went all the way to the top. If this is true and Canham knew, the University needs to take the appropriate response.
I'm sure more names will come out as this continues to look worse and worse. ..
Link to the tweet: https://twitter.com/DanMurphyESPN/status/1233047143717441536
February 27th, 2020 at 10:36 AM ^
What a shame.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:42 AM ^
What actions can they take?
All these administrators at the time are dead now and have not been employed by Michigan for decades. It is not like they can go resurrect their dead bodies and put them on trial.
I do feel bad for the victims, but what justice can be served in a situation like this?
February 27th, 2020 at 10:44 AM ^
They can be transparent and report everything as quickly and accurately as possible. Obviously they can't punish the doctor or past administrators who knew and are dead, but they can still help the victims and actively help the situation.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
They hired a firm to help them handle the situation, the letter Warde got was reported to police on a timely basis. UM police tried to follow up with the Washtenaw prosecutor (that office was the major reason for the lag between finishing the investigation and the announcement).
I don't see much that the current administration could really be doing differently, TBH.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:01 AM ^
I never said they were doing anything wrong or needed to do anything differently than they are currently.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:48 AM ^
You somewhat are implying that they need to do something different than what they are already are doing.
February 27th, 2020 at 12:39 PM ^
That's not how I read it. One commenter stated that the responsible parties are dead so you can't really do anything. The response was pointing out that "doing something" might not mean punishing the responsible parties--it might simply mean taking steps to show transparency, prevent future misconduct, etc. I don't think he was saying that UM was NOT doing those things--just that the fact that the violations occurred sometime ago and the participants are deceased does not necessarily mean that no actions can be taken. That's how I took it anyway.
February 27th, 2020 at 1:39 PM ^
I think they have to be 110% sure that they are transparent; and take care of the victims to the best of their ability. Make sure the victims know they are the first priority.
Don't let 'saving face' be an issue here. That's gone. Be the leaders and best by taking a horrific situation and responding way past what you have to do, and lance the boil. Clean out the rot and make sure it can't happen again.
The lawyer is saying that the delay came from Warde's office, from what I've read. I've heard other say it was the prosecutor. Either way, I'd go public with everything about this the second I knew about it for sure. And if there is/are any legal ramifications make sure that the cops do the investigating on this; not 'an independant firm'.
This is a huge blot on our University. Deal with it head on and help those who were victimized. Do the right thing.
And, WTH Big Ten? MSU, OSU, PSU, and us? WTF?
February 27th, 2020 at 5:56 PM ^
They can start by taking Canham's name off the natatorium.
February 27th, 2020 at 3:17 PM ^
Yep. That’s pretty much all you can do.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
The steps so far that have been taken are appropriate. I’m not gonna scream bloody murder unless someone of the current admin/past admin who’s still alive actively hid information.
Are any of the victims accusing the school of a coverup? If not, then it seems like the right actions are being taken to rectify this situation.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
Not to sound to crude, but there is always money. I am not saying the accusers are out for cash, but I am saying the university should open up the checkbook-- after a thorough investigation , a detailed report of the allegations and evidence, and an acknowledgement that this happened.
Don't underestimate the power of acknowledgment. That alone isn't sufficient -- really, nothing that could be done at this point is --- but it is necessary.
Look, I was molested as a kid -- and I was lucky enough to be believed. I even got to see one of the perpetrators locked up. I can only imagine what the victims of the scandal at MSU or PSU feel like when the administration and/or fan base not only disbelieve them, but also ascribe some kind of ill intent behind coming forward.
A plain, straight forward acknowledgement isn't going to make it better-- but it will stop it from being any worse.
February 28th, 2020 at 3:06 PM ^
Good for you to have stepped forward. You probably saved other kids from having the same fate.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
What, you never dug up a grave before?
Just need shovels.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:41 AM ^
Modern day society will figure out a way to cancel them.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:45 AM ^
College Athletics seem to be the only thing immune from cancel culture, see: Penn St, Baylor, MSU.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:55 AM ^
Even though many of the people involved may be dead and gone, there’s still value in:
1) letting victims come forward, be heard, and know that what happened to them isn’t okay
2) remind administrators that their jobs and legacies are on the line and brushing this stuff under the rug or not taking it seriously is unacceptable. In all of these cases that come out, it seems, someone in a position of power could have put a stop to it before more people were victimized.
Obviously we can’t say what they did or did not exactly know or why they thought their actions were the right ones, but shining a light on this stuff can prevent it from reoccurring. That’s about the best you can hope for.
February 27th, 2020 at 12:07 PM ^
review systems to understand how this was kept secret and fix it so that there is a better system that will not depend on the few at top from squashing reports.
February 27th, 2020 at 12:53 PM ^
What actions can they take?
Well, folks aren't going to squeeze blood from a turnip regarding the dead guys.
But moving forward, I hope Michigan does everything NOT like Staee and PSU did.
That's a start.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:45 AM ^
If this is true and Canham knew, the University needs to take the appropriate response.
The better question is what exactly is an appropriate response? Removing someone from an athletic hall of fame 10+ years after they are dead doesn't really accomplish much.
I would assume that a fund will be established for counselling services and there may be some compensation offered, but we are talking about people responsible that haven't been at the university in 15 to 20 years and many have passed years ago. The time for "appropriate response" has come and gone. Policies have already been changed, new people are in charge. Its just a tragedy that nothing happened soon enough to make a real difference.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:00 AM ^
Possibly change the name of Canham Natatorium?
February 27th, 2020 at 11:26 AM ^
Your comments makes sense. I don't think any differently about Don Canham now then say a few years ago.
February 27th, 2020 at 4:26 PM ^
You don't erase the history by removing him. You correct the history by including a tribute to the abuse victims he failed next to his name.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:46 AM ^
Just to be clear, and I didn't see/hear the press conference, but the tweet says "ignored warnings", not "warning signs", which to me makes a difference.
"Warning signs" would be more open to interpretation while "Warnings" sounds a lot more serious.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:47 AM ^
Great catch, thank you.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
You need to remember it is the attorneys talking and Don Canham can't respond. If evidence comes out that he did cover up the situation then he should be condemned. Right now it's lawyer speak and he has a name that would attract a lot of attention.
Let the facts come out.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:09 AM ^
My title: "Former AD Don Canham and Former Wrestling Coach Bill Johannesen Allegedly "Ignored Warning Signs" of Dr. Robert E. Anderson's Abuse"
February 27th, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
Allegedly I didn't respond to you.
I'll accept your apology for the snarky comment below.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:26 AM ^
Yep, but you posted on a board where we all have access to what you write. Sorry I took the freedom to respond to you.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:27 AM ^
Moron
I have the freedom to respond also. See?
February 27th, 2020 at 11:32 AM ^
My god you're a fucking idiot lol
February 27th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^
Says the one who can't follow posts.
Sorry loser. All you had to say is sorry or not be a dick on your post.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:59 AM ^
It's really ironic since you were the one who was a dick to me. All I did was show you that the title to my post was not stating anything as fact. Then you decided to be snarky with me and be upset when I responded in similar vein.
February 27th, 2020 at 2:16 PM ^
Well, at a minimum, either the victim (DeLuca) who reported his experience to Manuel, or Johannesen is lying about something. Johannesen is still alive and told the Detroit News on Wednesday that he had not been alerted to any improper behavior by Anderson. Further he said,
"That never, ever happened," said Johannesen, who served as assistant and head coach for UM wrestling from 1970-78. "I never really had anything to respond to."
Assuming for a minute that DeLuca would have no reason to make up a story like this especially when a boatload of other people have come forward about Anderson, Johannesen is starting to sound like someone trying to cover his ass. If DeLuca lost his scholarship as he says, certainly Johannesen and others in the AD would have had to know something about the situation with Anderson.
This is definitely looking bad for the way the University handled this in the past. The important thing will be how they handle it in the present.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:53 AM ^
I don't want to hear any of this bullshit about "oh they're dead what can we do." We're not OSU, PSU or Sparty.
If (I know, IF) it turns out that they were substantially negligible we should acknowledge it.
Be transparent. Take responsibility as an institution. Make the process changes you need to prevent this from happening. Apologize. Apologize again.
Not only is it the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do. You can't hide from this. The facts will eventually reveal themselves anyway.
February 27th, 2020 at 10:57 AM ^
How is this different than what they are actually doing?
Apologize? Check
Acknowledge? Check
Process changes? I mean this was 15+ years ago, they already happened.
Transparency? They reported it to UM police, the police brought it to the prosecutor, the police followed up when the prosecutor wasn't making progress on the report, and UM released the report when the prosecutor was done with it.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
I was speaking more to the portion of the fanbase that thinks nothing should be done because these people have passed away.
If the university is doing everything right, then great.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:05 AM ^
I don't hear anyone arguing that nothing "should" be done. Most people are saying that little can be done
February 27th, 2020 at 11:08 AM ^
That's fair. Perhaps I got a little too worked up for no reason.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:16 AM ^
Oui, oui. Allez.
February 28th, 2020 at 1:03 AM ^
As I re-read the whole blog and postings, it seems to me that there are a few entries suggesting a lot can be done and a few examples are provided.
For those saying little can be done, I think it is just referring to the doctor that died who can't be incarcerated or anything. But a lot is happening, a lot is being done, and hopefully more can be done.
But figure $millions will be spent on this to address the case, to create a taskforce, to provide best information to regents and the public, to provide new guidelines for the athletic department, and otherwise be forthright with the public and assertive in discovering more information. Legal stuff is pricey and there will be many strategic consultants involved also.
So just in eye of beholder I guess, but I could write a 50 page thesis on what Michigan could do...couldn't most of us if pressed? Michigan watched MSU go down. I expect the response will be the opposite and pro-active...hopefully not just lip service, but creating a more open community for athletes and students to feel safe on a daily basis, and to also feel safe to come forward in the future if anything fishy goes on (which hopefully is rare to non-existent).
February 27th, 2020 at 10:56 AM ^
I'm unfortunately not particularly surprised that it was known about and ignored in the past. Society's attitude towards sexual assault, especially against men, is appalling today. 40 years ago? Forget about it. I was fully expecting information like this to come out eventually.
I'm just hoping that the current administration handles this with the respect it deserves now.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
You are correct about changing times. I am sure the current administration has a zero tolerance policy and after all of this, will become more strict.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:02 AM ^
Obviously, most of the people who ignored these abuses are dead and so swift justice isn't possible, but the University needs to remain transparent in their handling of this situation, accept financial responsibility in terms of settlements and support, and show proper contrition (all things they've done thus far). Basically, they need to look at what PSU and MSU did and do the complete opposite.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:03 AM ^
I'm not sure if I'm completely off base here, but it feels like at this point that people in the media are just trying to cash in on the frenzy caused by the MSU, OSU, and PSU scandals in order to attack Michigan. All of these scandals are horrendous and I feel strongly for the victims, but unlike the other B1G scandals, there is almost nothing Michigan can do for the victims of this scandal besides give counseling and be as transparent as possible. All of this happened 50 years ago and almost everyone involved is dead
February 27th, 2020 at 11:10 AM ^
I mean there are reports of abuse going into the 90s.
February 27th, 2020 at 12:41 PM ^
2000s is the latest accusation. Also high schools involved now, and at least 1 woman victim.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:24 AM ^
Let's wait until all the evidence is in and we can draw informed conclusions.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:29 AM ^
I know I will get hammered for this, but WTH.
How does a doctor abuse a college-age male athlete? I only played sports up through high school, but if a doctor ever tried to expand on the "turn your head and cough" routine, I would have decked him.
February 27th, 2020 at 11:34 AM ^
So as an 18-22 year-old kid, you would have the courage/thought to tell a doctor, one that your classmates/coaches are recommending to you, that you think he is doing something wrong.
Back in the 70's, I highly doubt those athletes had the standard procedure for what should happen as context so they could know if the doctor was doing something out-of-line.
People typically follow authority