The request, which stems from allegations against former UM lecturer Bruce Conforth, mark first time Ono has been asked to address misconduct charges.
Eight women who allege they were sexually assaulted by former University of Michigan lecturer Bruce Conforth asked the university’s new president to meet with them to discuss legal action against UM and Conforth, saying administrators failed to act despite complaints about the lecturer dating back to 2008.
During a virtual press briefing Friday, each of the former UM students asked Santa Ono the same question — eight times.
“President Ono, the University of Michigan dismissed us in court. Will you do the same? Or will you meet with us and make this right?”
The request is the first time that Ono faces sexual misconduct allegations since he began serving as president three weeks ago. He has called addressing sexual misconduct at the university one of his top priorities.
UM officials did not immediately respond to the women’s requests to meet with Ono. But lawyers for the women said that two UM officials registered to attend the virtual event: Tamiko Strickman, special advisor to the president and executive director of UM’s Equity, Civil Rights and Title IX office; and Gloria Hage, UM senior associate general counsel.
Last week, lawyers representing the women and UM argued before Michigan Court of Claims Judge Thomas Cameron as to whether a lawsuit should go forward against the university, which filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Daniel Barnett, an Okemos-based lawyer who is representing the women, said these cases are tough because it’s past the statute of limitations, which is two to three years, depending on the claim. New Michigan legislation allows minors who were sexually assaulted to file a claim up until the age of 28, but the women in the case were not minors. Barnett argued for the case to go forward and that the statute of limitations be extended, “because the university took steps to cover up their liability.”
Cameron dismissed the case last week.
Katherine McMahan, who said she complained about Conforth to UM in 2008, spoke directly to Ono during Friday’s virtual briefing and said the university’s actions show they do not care about them.
“If it did, it would do more than say they are sorry for what Bruce Conforth did, and take responsibility for what they did,” said McMahan.
She asked Ono to prove her wrong.
“You have said a lot of nice things about how you are different from your predecessors,” McMahan said.
