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Advocacy group seeks justice for sexual assault victims at University of Michigan

Black and white photo of Dr. Robert E. Anderson
Robert Kalmbach
/
Bentley Historical Library University of Michigan via AP, File

   

Spotlight Michigan,  an advocacy and education group, is supporting and seeking justice for what they estimate is more than 850 victims of sexual assault under the University of Michigan’s former Health Service Director, Dr. Robert. E Anderson.

The group's formation comes on the heels of a reportreleased by the WilmerHale firm, which found that school's failure to act on "countless occasions" allowed Anderson to harass, abuse and assault patients during his 37-year career.  

"You have on the record, official complaints against dr. Anderson going back to the 70’s so a lot of these victims are very appreciative to the fact that someone is willing to listen, believe and fight for them," Autria Lindsay, spokesperson for Spotlight Michigan said.

While the group is focused on highlighting cases of abuse surrounding Anderson at the University of Michigan, Lindsay said she hopes higher learning institutions across the area will take notice.

"One of the main tillers of Spotlight Michigan will be to not only spotlight these atrocious crimes, but also to highlight and try to hold accountable the numbers of administration officials and top leaders at the university that were not only made aware of these allegations but continued to overlook them."

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