Ohio State officials' depositions deepen insight into Richard Strauss misconduct knowledge
Updated
Updated · 10TV · May 7
Ohio State officials' depositions deepen insight into Richard Strauss misconduct knowledge
9 articles · Updated · 10TV · May 7
Thousands of pages from a lawsuit involving more than 100 survivors include former athletic director Andy Geiger's testimony and a 1994 letter saying male athletes felt uncomfortable with Strauss.
Survivors say Ohio State covered up abuse and that officials had chances to intervene, while some depositions remain sealed, including testimony from former president Gordon Gee and wrestling coach Russ Hellickson.
Hellickson previously said Strauss watched athletes shower, and Ohio State has already settled more than 300 survivor cases as the litigation and scrutiny continue.
Ohio State paid millions to survivors, but are the powerful officials who looked away facing any real consequences?
If leaders knew enough to remove a doctor from one team, why was he allowed to continue his abuse for years?
Decades of Abuse at Ohio State: 177 Victims, Leadership Failures, and $61 Million in Survivor Settlements
Overview
Recent depositions from 2025 to 2026 revealed that senior Ohio State University officials, including multiple athletic directors, were aware of Dr. Richard Strauss's sexual abuse of at least 177 male students between 1978 and 1998. Despite early complaints and explicit warnings from university attorneys, administrators repeatedly ignored or minimized the allegations, allowing Strauss to continue abusing students, even after his removal in 1997. The university has since paid over $61 million in settlements but faces ongoing lawsuits, including from former football players. Public criticism centers on the university's legal defenses, limited accountability for leadership, and calls for greater transparency and systemic reform.