New Report Details Decades of Sexual Abuse at Famed Michigan Arts Academy

An independent investigation commissioned by Michigan's Interlochen Center for the Arts details decades of reported sexual abuse and misconduct involving former faculty, staff, trustees, and others connected to the prestigious Northern Michigan arts academy.

Independent Investigation Examined Decades of Allegations

According to Interlochen Public Radio, the 97-page report, released Tuesday (July 28), documents 70 firsthand accounts of sexual misconduct spanning from the 1950s through the 2010s. Investigators interviewed approximately 180 people during a two-year investigation that began after a former student reported allegations involving longtime music faculty member Byron Hanson.

According to the report, 47 individuals were accused of misconduct. None are currently employed by Interlochen, and roughly one-third are deceased. School officials said they have turned the names of all accused individuals over to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor's Office and Sheriff's Office for review.

Dozens Accused in Investigation Findings

Most of those accused were not publicly identified in the report. However, Interlochen identified four individuals by name, including former faculty member Byron Hanson, whose alleged misconduct prompted the investigation. The others were former administrator John "Jack" Hood, former trustee Charlie McWhorter, and former faculty member Thomas Clower, who was convicted of criminal sexual conduct in 2005 after being reported to law enforcement and fired by the school.

School President Apologizes to Survivors

In a letter accompanying the report, Interlochen President Trey Devey apologized to survivors, calling the abuse "heartbreaking" and saying it was contrary to everything the institution stands for. School officials also said the campus now has extensive student safety measures in place and noted that very few reported incidents involved the past 25 years.

The full investigation report, along with President Trey Devey's complete statement, is available here.