FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JUNE 22, 2021
CONTACT:
Autria Lindsay (202) 322-4401
NEARLY 80% OF MICHIGAN RESIDENTS EXPRESS OUTRAGE OVER SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL ROCKING UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
NEW POLLING OF MICHIGANDERS SHOWS ANGER AT PEAK LEVELS FOR COVERUP OF SEXUAL ABUSE BY TEAM DOCTOR, RESIDENTS WANT SCHEMBECHLER HALL RENAMED
ANN ARBOR - New poll numbers of current Michigan residents are showing how enraged citizens are about the ongoing sexual abuse scandal regarding Dr. Robert Anderson at the University of Michigan. Specifically, nearly 80% of Michiganders are "angry" (or "very angry") about the handling of the Anderson investigation.
Highlights from the recent survey of Michigan citizens include:
Blame for Sexual Abuse Scandal
- 81.67% blame University of Michigan personnel
- 77.5% blame the University of Michigan overall
- 71.17% blame former Michigan Head Football Coach Bo Schembechler
University Handling of the Scandal
- Only 24.83% responded that the university was doing a "good job" handling the situation
- Approx. 79% answered "angry" or "very angry" about the situation
Justice for the Victims
- 82% of respondents overwhelmingly believe that the University of Michigan owes the victims more than an apology in the name of justice and accountability
- 82% of residents overwhelmingly want current Regents voted out if they helped cover up this scandal
- Approx. 80% of those surveyed want past Board of Regents held liable for covering up the scandal
- Approx. 59% of respondents believe that Schembechler Hall should be renamed due to the former coach’s knowledge of and lack of action regarding the continued abuse by Dr. Anderson
Causeway Solutions conducted a survey of Michigan citizens over the age of 18 years old from June 8 through June 10, 2021. This online survey was conducted on behalf of Spotlight Michigan (N=600) and should yield a margin of error of ±4% in 95 out of 100 cases. Over a third (40%) of respondents attended the University of Michigan.
Spotlight Michigan is committed to exposing these crimes and providing a voice to the community of victims, families, friends, and University of Michigan alumni that demand accountability from the University for its failure to put students before predators. It is also imperative that protocols and procedures be updated and improved to ensure such systemic failures that allowed for both the abuse and the cover-up never happen again.
To learn more about Spotlight Michigan visit our website at www.spotlightmichigan.com
