HBO’s 'Surviving Ohio State' Uncovers Decades of Abuse
It’s hard to look away from the devastation in HBO’s new documentary, Surviving Ohio State, which exposes the extent of sexual abuse carried out by Dr. Richard Strauss against student athletes at Ohio State University between 1978 and 1998. The film pulls no punches. Through raw, firsthand accounts, viewers see just how many young men—at least 177, including 48 from the wrestling team—were subjected to Strauss’s medically unnecessary and abusive "exams." Survivors like Dan Ritchie and Mike DiSabato vividly recall the heavy cost: trust broken, trauma ignored, and years of institutional silence.
What really stings is the backdrop of dismissiveness from those responsible for protecting these athletes. Former team members say complaints went nowhere and doors stayed closed. It didn’t matter how obvious Strauss’s actions appeared or how many voices spoke up. The university’s own 2018 investigation laid it bare: leaders had been aware of the abuse, and yet they looked the other way. Dr. Ted Grace, who once headed student health, lost his medical license in 2021 for brushing off repeated reports. He was supposed to help—he chose to protect the institution instead.
Spotlight on Accountability: Jim Jordan and Ongoing Fallout
The documentary also shines a harsh light on current House Speaker Rep. Jim Jordan, who served as an assistant wrestling coach during part of Strauss’s tenure. According to the film, wrestlers told Jordan directly about Strauss’s conduct. Their stories echo: they claim Jordan shared a locker room wall with the doctor and was unmistakably in the loop. The documentary documents moments where Jordan allegedly dismissed complaints outright—something he flatly denies, even as survivors recount those uncomfortable exchanges on camera. He says he knew nothing. Yet, with court battles still dragging on, Jordan is set for a sworn deposition in July 2025. Lawmakers, advocates, and survivors are watching closely.
Ohio State has tried to move forward. The university issued a formal apology, paid out settlements to many survivors, and announced changes to campus health procedures. They want people to believe it’s a “fundamentally different institution” now. But pain from the past doesn’t fade fast, especially after decades of inaction. Some details in the documentary, like allegations of Strauss injecting students with performance-enhancing drugs, remain unaddressed by university spokespeople.
The public reckoning isn’t over. The film pumped new urgency into old questions: Who did enough? Who turned away? Survivors are demanding more than words—they want to see real, lasting change, not just for themselves, but for every student who deserves a safe place to learn, compete, and trust the adults in charge.
Sihle Tana
I am a journalist with a passion for covering daily news in Africa. My work has taken me across the continent, reporting on significant events and stories that impact communities. I strive to bring insightful and comprehensive news coverage to my readers.
Man, I just watched this doc last night... I mean, how many times do you have to hear the same story before someone actually does something? Like, these guys were kids, trusting adults to keep them safe, and instead? They got violated and ignored. And now? People act like it's ancient history. It's not. It's still bleeding.
I'm a former college athlete and I can't even imagine being in their shoes. The fact that coaches and admins turned away instead of protecting them? That's not just negligence-that's betrayal. I hope this sparks real change, not just another PR statement.
This is what happens when you let weak men run institutions and let the system protect itself not the kids. America is rotting from the inside and Ohio State is just one more crack in the wall. The real crime is that Jordan still has a job and a platform. That's not justice that's a joke
You know what's wild? The same people who scream about cancel culture are the ones quietly defending Jordan because he's "one of us". But when it's a 17-year-old kid being probed by a doctor who shouldn't even be licensed? No one's crying about his "reputation". Double standards don't just exist-they're institutionalized.
The structural failure here is profound. It reflects a global pattern where institutions prioritize reputation over human dignity. The absence of systemic accountability mechanisms, coupled with hierarchical power imbalances, enables predatory behavior to persist under the guise of tradition. This is not merely an Ohio State issue-it is a pedagogical and ethical crisis in institutional governance.
It’s heartbreaking, but not surprising. Every generation thinks they’re the first to face this, but the truth is, these patterns repeat because we reward silence over courage. But maybe this time, with survivors speaking out and documentaries like this one, we can finally break the cycle. Hope isn’t naive-it’s necessary.
The timing of this documentary is too convenient. Who funded it? HBO has ties to certain political factions. And why now? Just before Jordan’s deposition? The numbers-177 victims-were never independently verified. The university’s 2018 report was flawed. The whole thing smells like a coordinated smear campaign to destroy a political figure under the cover of victim advocacy. Every detail is staged.
The real win here isn't the apology or the settlements-it's that survivors are finally being heard. That’s the first step in trauma recovery. Institutional change takes time, but if we keep pushing, if we keep naming names and refusing to look away, we build a culture where the next kid doesn’t have to suffer in silence. This isn’t about politics. It’s about humanity.