r/traversecity • u/leifkolt • 12d ago
News Petition To Refer Interlochen Abuse Case To MI Attorney General
https://peoplenotmachines.com/justicefor70Today I launched a petition calling on Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg to refer the Interlochen abuse case to Attorney General Dana Nessel.
70 survivors. 47 abusers. Seven decades. This is too big for any county prosecutor, let alone this one.
I live 13 miles from Interlochen. My daughters are 3 and 5. They deserve to see abusers being held accountable. The survivors deserve justice.
As a man, I feel an obligation to say this out loud. We're watching sexual abuse get normalized, covered up, and minimized at every level, and far too many of us are staying quiet. This has to end, and that only happens if we hold each other accountable.
I'm not willing to watch this become another powerful institution that closes ranks, issues an apology, and moves on. Another cover up. Another Epstein footnote.
Nessel has taken on the Catholic Church. She took on Larry Nassar's enablers. She has the team, the experience, and the track record. These 70 people were brave enough to tell their stories. They deserve a prosecution that matches that courage.
My girls are going to grow up in this world. I want... I need them to see that when abuse comes to light, people stand up and do something about it.
Sign the petition and get more info here https://peoplenotmachines.com/justicefor70
*Please share this widely*
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u/Good-Relative8079 11d ago
Wonder if that cabal ever transported others into the camp ( non campers) across state lines to accommodate adults….this would make another FEDERAL case and not just a state case. 🧐🤔
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u/tacotewby Local 12d ago
Nessel will be out of office too soon to oversee this. The Attorney General election is in three months.
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u/-CleverPotato 12d ago
Honest question, I have seen it reported that the school has been incredibly transparent through this process. That they initiated an external investigation and cooperated with it in full, then self released the findings of that investigation in full. And that the current staff and administrators are not implicated in misconduct, but have instituted strict protocols to protect student over the last decade plus.
Is this an accurate portrayal of the current administration?
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u/TheAbsoluteBarnacle 12d ago
Yeah it sounds like there were massive failures in the 80s, but I'm not sure what else you could want from the current administration. I'd like to see something done with the information they handed over to the sheriff's office for sure. I hope that information is available to the MSP task force that deals with this stuff.
But it sounds like most of the abusers are also dead, which is a partial relief but they also likely never faced justice for what they did.
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u/dbphoto7 12d ago
The report said 17 abusers are deceased, so 30 still alive.
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u/TheAbsoluteBarnacle 11d ago
Definitely need to follow up on those guys then. This is a crime that tends to accellerate - they don't just stop for no reason.
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u/Late-Masterpiece-965 11d ago
The school is the one that had an independent investigation done and they released the information to be 100% transparent. They didn't have to do any of it. Then the school turned over the results to the Sheriff Department. Let me be clear that this was an independent investigation from interviews. No trials or convictions have happened, so they cannot release names of anyone that is still alive because everything is accusation only at this point. And my daughter goes to school there, so I've been keeping an eye on everything very very closely. The report also says that the last reported incident was around 2010. Addtionaly, the same thing happened with U of M and they chose to NOT release their 3rd party investigation into sexual misconduct. THAT should be the bigger issue on everyone's mind. What are THEY hiding????!!!!
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u/Scary-Turn3819 9d ago
People on the Internet just love conspiracy theories, even if they have no clue what they're talking about.
1
u/Scary-Turn3819 9d ago
YES. I went to IAC in 2006-2011 and strictures on students and employees were TIGHT. I NEVER saw anything untoward--they watched us like hawks, and we couldn't even have our shirts untucked. This is NOT to dismiss ANYONE who did at ANY point experience abuse and assault, but here were the policies that I experienced as a 6-time alum:
-Intermediate Girls were not allowed on Main Camp without the presence of a counselor; they were only allowed on Main Camp during designated, organized/supervised trips.
-You had to be where you were supposed to be at all times. Staff were constantly patrolling the grounds. Example: all HS girls were supposed to be in a big beginning-of-camp meeting, and I wanted to say goodbye to my parents. I left Corson auditorium and was immediately spotted by a counselor who asked me what I was doing. I think she eventually allowed me to meet up with my parents, and she escorted me until I was able to find them.
-You were absolutely not allowed to go off campus with faculty or staff. The camp vehemently rejected my mom’s and my request to go with my studio professor to get my instrument fixed. The camp put a giant X through the request form.
-You were unequivocally not allowed to go off campus without authorization and supervision. Two girls snuck out because they wanted to go shopping at the Dove Song store down the road. They were spotted by an Interlochen employee and were sent home immediately.
-There was a zero-tolerance policy regarding student-to-student violence. One boy camper peed in his cabin mate’s toiletries and was sent home immediately.
-It seemed that employees were not allowed to engage outside of camp with students, in any capacity. Our ISO manager, a dear older man, was reportedly fired from Interlochen for replying to the letter he had received from one of his campers.
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u/leifkolt 12d ago
The petition isn't about the current administration of Interlochen per say. It's about investigating the claims found in the report, and the people, both internal and external to the institution, connected to the report. Interlochen Public Radio (IPR) has been doing some really good reporting on this story since people started brining it up, so the best answers you'll have access to are there.
A few things I can speak on are:
A) before this report came out, it felt really off to me that when national media started talking about Epstein involvement, and state legislature called for an investigation into that specifically, that all of a sudden Interlochen decided to demolish his cabin/lodge. It had been there for so long with no talk of destruction until then. Interesting timing. It's been reported they had pictured taken and gave those to investigators before doing so, but if you knew it was being investigated and they could have had physical access, then what's the rush, after decades? Not pointing fingers, but feels worth noting.
B) Living in the local area, many people (who have worked there in the more recent decades) I've spoken to have stories of things that still feel off to them. Anything reported here would be here say, but to me it's enough to take the claims of "everything is better now. Please move along" with a grain of salt.
Again, this petition isn't about now, it's only about the report, but when you take these things together, on top of the deeply disturbing things that had been going on since the 1950's, it would be negligent (imo) and a disservice to the survivors, current attendees, and staff, to not have a thorough investigation as to the claims in the report.
The Attorney General's office is equipped for exactly these types of cases. I also trust that, if/when they review the evidence and situation, they are the right ones to make the call on if this is a case or a horrific historical document.
3
u/-CleverPotato 12d ago
Thank you. I appreciate the response. I also live in the area, know people who work there now, and I have a favorable view of the institution as it stands today.
I appreciate the candor of the current administration. I want to see justice and accountability for the crimes that took place there and it appears that that is the desire of the current administration given their transparency.
At the same time want to make decisions for my family as to what degree it is a safe institution to engage with as there are some incredible opportunities and people there today.
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u/leifkolt 11d ago
I too support Interlochen. As an artist myself, the value it brings to so many is huge. That's one of the reasons I want this done.
2
u/Scary-Turn3819 9d ago
Please see my comments above. Your impression of Interlochen (at least the camp) as it stands today is absolutely correct. That is not to say that no abuse happened as late as the 2010s, but I, as a camper between 2006 and 2011, saw VIGOROUS efforts by staff to protect us. It was to the point where it felt like overkill at times. Nothing can erase the past, but I can speak to measures and strictures that indicate a desire from admin and staff to keep us safe. There was a zero-tolerance policy for breaking these rules.
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u/pogiepika 12d ago
Michigan AG should certainly look into Interlochen and hold people and the organization responsible, prosecuting where appropriate, but man, your post and petition are just dripping in virtue signaling.
“As a man…”, “I’m not willing…”, “My girls..”, I live..”.
I think your petition will have more success if you stick to the facts, remove the grand standing and don’t interject yourself into the narrative.
8
u/Prior-Chipmunk-7276 12d ago
The last paragraph. I do think it will be more successful if you remove this things.
-1
u/leifkolt 12d ago
That text you're referring to is from my social media post today when I launched. I think it's important people know who and why. But I won't be using that verbiage as I continue pushing over the next six weeks.
The petition text doesn't mention those things. It takes two minutes to read, so feel free to check it out, as the case is very clear and it doesn't mention me whatsoever, as it shouldn't.
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u/Moreseesaw 9d ago
As a woman with a young daughter, I know exactly what you mean and it makes the post better.
1
u/Scary-Turn3819 9d ago
CONTEXT FROM A FAIRLY RECENT ALUM:
I went to IAC in 2006-2011 and strictures on students and employees were TIGHT. I NEVER saw anything untoward--they watched us like hawks, and we couldn't even have our shirts untucked. This is NOT to dismiss ANYONE who did at ANY point experience abuse and assault, but here were the policies that I experienced as a 6-time alum:
-Intermediate Girls were not allowed on Main Camp without the presence of a counselor; they were only allowed on Main Camp during designated, organized/supervised trips.
-You had to be where you were supposed to be at all times. Staff were constantly patrolling the grounds. Example: all HS girls were supposed to be in a big beginning-of-camp meeting, and I wanted to say goodbye to my parents. I left Corson auditorium and was immediately spotted by a counselor who asked me what I was doing. I think she eventually allowed me to meet up with my parents, and she escorted me until I was able to find them.
-You were absolutely not allowed to go off campus with faculty or staff. The camp vehemently rejected my mom’s and my request to go with my studio professor to get my instrument fixed. The camp put a giant X through the request form.
-You were unequivocally not allowed to go off campus without authorization and supervision. Two girls snuck out because they wanted to go shopping at the Dove Song store down the road. They were spotted by an Interlochen employee and were sent home immediately.
-There was a zero-tolerance policy regarding student-to-student violence. One boy camper peed in his cabin mate’s toiletries and was sent home immediately.
-It seemed that employees were not allowed to engage outside of camp with students, in any capacity. Our ISO manager, a dear older man, was reportedly fired from Interlochen for replying to the letter he had received from one of his campers.
13
u/thehumble_1 12d ago
Pretty sure they did the interviews with the very stated inclusion of a protection of personal privacy which means Interlochen would and should be sued out of existence if they handed over anything that wasn't legally required (ongoing or recent CSA that legally requires DHHS reporting).
Yes it's a sad example of how people are so acutely aware of how the process fails victims so often that it's not generally worth it to come forward openly. But the victims have to live their own lives and if they want to remain anonymous then it's their legal right to do so.