FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JUNE 1, 2021 CONTACT: press@spotlightmichigan.com
VIDEO: FORMER MICHIGAN FOOTBALL PLAYER: "UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AIDED AND ABETTED ONE OF THE MOST DERANGED SEXUAL PREDATORS OF OUR TIME." Former Wolverine football star, and Rose Bowl Champion, Chuck Christian details his years of sexual abuse by team physician Robert Anderson and how it almost cost him his life
ANN ARBOR - In a searing and emotional 34-minute video, former University of Michigan standout football player Chuck Christian details his four years of sexual abuse and rape at the hands of team physician Dr. Robert Anderson. Christian was with the team from 1977-1981 and helped the Wolverines win three Big 10 Championships and go on to become Rose Bowl Champs. "The University of Michigan aided and abetted one of the most deranged sexual predators of our time," Christian reveals in this no holds barred account of how university officials - including team coaches and trainers- not only KNEW about Anderson's predatory behavior but openly joked about it in front of the players. "Bo knew everything, Bo used to brag about the fact that he knew everything." "Bo knew everything that pertained to his players, Bo had eyes and ears all over Ann Arbor, and Bo knew what Anderson was doing to us," Christian asserts. He goes on to estimate that Anderson molested "somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 athletes" by fondling, masturbating, digitally penetrating, and performing oral stimulation on players during his 37 years with the University. "I never heard a coach or a trainer say that what Anderson was doing to us was wrong," Christian says. As a Michigan athlete, we had only ONE option for our annual physicals, we had to go to Anderson. Anderson would use that unsupervised time with a student-athlete to fondle, masturbate and digitally penetrate 18-22-year-olds," Christian reveals. Christian also asserts that rape was a "mandatory part" of the annual physical by Dr. Anderson, and any players who objected to or questioned the sexual assault portion of the physical were retaliated against by the coaches. "Players who refused to allow Anderson to penetrate them were punished by the coaching staff, players were not allowed to practice if they didn't have a complete physical," Christian said. Because of the years of sexual abuse, Christian developed a strong distrust and fear of medical professionals. As a result of years avoiding doctors "at all costs," Christian developed stage 4 prostate cancer and was given just a short time to live. Through non-traditional treatment, he is now beating the odds and is coming forward with his cautionary tale of how being forced into years of sexual abuse as a young man can have long-term and devastating effects on victims for years to come. Christian has come forward with his video in reaction to the report released earlier this month detailing the repeated rapes and sexual abuse by Dr. Anderson, and the refusal by UM administration officials to do something about it. Click here to read the full WilmerHale report that, while outlining the vast scope of Anderson's abuse over his 37-year-tenure, comes up short in adequately exposing the cover-up and denial of his actions by top university officials.
Requests for interviews contact press@spotlightmichigan.com 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 |