Report details sexual assault claims, ‘profoundly disturbing’ environment at St. George’s

FIFTY-ONE students claimed they were sexually assaulted by faculty, staff and classmates at St. George’s School during the 1970s and 1980s, according to a report.
FIFTY-ONE students claimed they were sexually assaulted by faculty, staff and classmates at St. George’s School during the 1970s and 1980s, according to a report.

MIDDLETOWN – Fifty-one students claimed they were sexually assaulted by faculty, staff and classmates at St. George’s School during the 1970s and 1980s, according to a report released Thursday by Boston firm Foley Hoag and reported by The Boston Globe.

The 390-page report was written by Martin F. Murphy, a partner at Foley Hoag, who was selected by the school and victims’ right group “SGS for Healing” in January to head the investigation.

Murphy’s report found 20 percent of girls who attended the school between 1972 and 1979 reported sexual assault or misconduct by former athletic trainer Al Gibbs, according to Globe reporting.

In the 390-page document, Murphy called the environment he uncovered at the school “profoundly disturbing” and alumni described the school environment as “a private hell” in which they incurred “emotional wounds and trauma.”

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Repurcussions from past actions reach into the present as the school reached a financial settlement with 29 alumni last month.

In addition, Eric Peterson, the current head of school, will leave at the end of the 2016-2017 academic year when his contract expires. The Globe said he came under fire from alumni who said he had not been responsive to the sex scandal.

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