General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMale survivors unite to expose sexual abuse at college football's biggest rivals
Fans of famed rivals Ohio State University and the University of Michigan often boast of how little they have in common. But two of Americas biggest college sports programs are bonded by one issue: a history of sexual abuse perpetuated by team doctors.
On Saturday OSU and Michigan battled in front of 110,000 fans on the football field an occasion so momentous its known simply as The Game. But elsewhere on the Michigan campus former athletes from both universities gathered in front of Michigan president Mark Schlissels house to shine a light on the sexual abuse they endured during their time at the colleges. The protest was spearheaded by Jon Vaughn, a former running back for Michigan, who went on to play four years in the NFL. Now, despite the longstanding rivalry between the universities, the men have formed a survivor solidarity group.
Toxic masculinity is an overused term, but Im putting my name on this, because some other man is out there struggling with their own trauma and the stigma attached, said Tom Lisy, a wrestler at OSU in the late 1980s. He was abused by an OSU team doctor, Richard Strauss, and had driven from Cleveland to attend the protest. If sexual assault can happen to the men on the field these athletes then it can happen to anyone. Im out here raising awareness of that, said Lisy.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/nov/30/ohio-state-michigan-doctors-sexual-abuse-college-football
mopinko
(69,806 posts)my son is one, and man. the stigma is just insane.
CaptainTruth
(6,546 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,444 posts)Good for them. Men even hurt each other.
CaptainTruth
(6,546 posts)It's long overdue.