RHODE ISLAND
Change.org
[petition]
We, the undersigned, insist that St. George’s School take clear and powerful restorative action to assist the many alumni from the school who were sexually assaulted as students at St. George’s.
Dozens of alumni have come forward since The Boston Globe ran its story, Former student forces R.I. prep school to confront its past, on December 15th, and yet many do not feel safe in recounting their experiences as part of the School’s “independent investigation” or appealing to the victims’ assistance fund set up by the school. This is because the investigation is being undertaken by a law firm that represents the School. The fund is administered by that same firm. And, as a condition for reimbursement from the fund, alumni are required to agree not to tell anyone that St. George’s is paying for their therapy. At the same time, the School gives no assurance that it will uphold the confidentiality of alumni seeking reimbursement.
Many alumni who were abused at SGS by Gibbs and other former employees have contacted us since the Boston Globe story appeared on the front page of Boston Globe on December 15. They have also contacted our lawyers. Almost all of these alumni need clinical help and there are several alumni that are suffering from PTSD, depression or other mental illness and who have expressed thoughts of suicide. SGS has refused to engage in discussions with us on the need to appoint an independent clinician who can provide crisis management counseling, case management and referrals for alumni who require immediate care.
St. George’s “independent” investigation and victims’ assistance fund are inconsistent with the approach taken by virtually all other independent schools in similar situations. When faced with credible allegations of sexual abuse, the majority of those schools have retained independent clinicians to coordinate mental health assistance for alumni and have hired investigators with no prior relationship with the school.
Many alumni who did tell their story to St. George’s prior to December 15th feel devastated and betrayed now that they realize the investigator they had been assured was “independent” is actually the law partner of St. George’s own legal counsel.
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