As deadline nears, Strauss victims seek accountability, not Ohio State’s settlement program
Jessica Langer
LanternTV Campus Producer
Jessica Orozco
Asst. Campus Editor
Sarah Szilagy
Patricia B. Miller Special Projects Reporter
For the past three years in courtrooms, conference rooms and newspapers, Mike Schyck has detailed the sexual abuse he endured by former university physician Richard Strauss.
As a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the university, Schyck, who was an Ohio State wrestler from 1988-93 and assistant wrestling coach from 1993-96, has been outspoken about the toll litigation has taken on him. Until midnight Saturday, he has the opportunity to leave his lawsuit and participate in the university’s Strauss Individual Settlement Program, which promises victims an average maximum of $252,551 and prevents them from suing the university for Strauss’ abuse.
But Schyck said he will “absolutely not” participate in the settlement program.
“I stepped up on behalf of my teammates and myself because other people didn’t, our coaches didn’t,” Schyck said. “We want accountability. And at every step of the way, people have tried to invalidate us.”
Mike Schyck, an Ohio State wrestler from 1988-93, practices for a match against Iowa in 1993.
Lantern Archives
Schyck, a victim of Richard Strauss’ abuse, speaks to the media after his statement to the full Board of Trustees.
Lantern File Photo
Schyck is one of hundreds of men who have sued the university for failing to address and prevent their sexual abuse by Strauss, a physician at the university’s Student Wellness Center and the team doctor for 17 varsity sports from 1978-98. An independent investigation by law firm Perkins Coie found in May 2019 that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 students and student-athletes during his time at the university and Ohio State failed to act.
He and Stephen Snyder-Hill, a survivor who attended Ohio State from 1991-2000, said they lost trust in the university for how it handled the cases and don’t believe signing the settlement program is the best option for victims. University spokesperson Ben Johnson said in an email the university does not require survivors to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
“Individuals who settle can still talk about their experience publicly,” Johnson said. “The independent investigation was completed because of the strength and courage of survivors, and we thank each of them for their willingness to share their experiences.”
In a court filing May 3, the university proposed a program to settle with victims in five open cases against the university. Victims who participate in the program will receive money based on a five-tiered system, ranging from the cost of counseling for those who “come forward with story of personal impact” to $250,000 for those who were anally raped or otherwise endured “significant sexual acts,” according to the program website.
Audio excerpt from Stephen Snyder-Hill.
Are you a victim of sexual abuse, harrassment or assault by former Ohio State physician Richard Strauss?
Terms of settlement are silencing, victims say
One of the main elements of the program victims pointed out as problematic is what agreeing to the settlement requires them to do: agree to not sue the university for Strauss’ abuse, pursue unreleased documents from the Perkins Coie report nor further complain about the university’s response to the abuse.
The RPAC now covers the ground where Larkins Hall once sat.
Mackenzie Shanklin | Photo Editor
“The abuse that we all dealt with was one thing, but honestly, these last three years and the way that everything has been handled has probably been 10 times what it is we’ve all dealt with,” Schyck said.
Johnson said victims wouldn’t be prevented from mentioning actions the university has taken since 2018, but they would have to do so without “criticizing” the university.
“Since 2018, Ohio State has led the effort to investigate and expose Richard Strauss’ abuse and the university’s failure at the time to prevent it,” Johnson said in an email. “Ohio State is a fundamentally different university today than when Strauss was employed.”
But Snyder-Hill said the university of today has violated his trust before — in its handling of his public records.
Snyder-Hill said Strauss assaulted him in 1995 in the Wilce Student Health Center. He said he reported the incident to then-Director of Student Health Services Dr. Ted Grace.