What is documented?
The 2019 investigation found abuse of at least 177 former students and failures to act on complaints. Ohio State’s timeline records additional settlements in February and April 2026.
Limits of this record
Strauss died in 2005; these findings are not his criminal conviction. Settlements resolve specified claims and do not establish that all litigation is finished or every employee was responsible. The 177 figure belongs to the investigation, not a campus-wide prevalence rate.
The dated record
Compare institutions →External investigation announced
Ohio State’s timeline dates the start of the external investigation to April 2018. The month is known; this record assigns no day.
Ohio State · investigation and litigation timeline ↗Independent findings released
The report release documented abuse of at least 177 former students and failures by university personnel to act meaningfully on complaints.
Ohio State · release of independent Strauss investigation ↗First settlement in university timeline
The university chronology records $40.9 million for 162 survivors. This is a dated civil settlement, not a criminal verdict.
Ohio State · investigation and litigation timeline ↗Additional settlement recorded
Ohio State records $800,000 for eight survivors in February 2026. No exact day is assigned from this timeline.
Ohio State · investigation and litigation timeline ↗Seventh settlement recorded
Ohio State records $1.8 million for 13 survivors in April 2026. This does not establish resolution of every claim.
Ohio State · investigation and litigation timeline ↗Leadership & court roles
Michael V. Drake
President at May 2019 report release
Issued the university’s apology and acknowledged failures to prevent abuse.
Source for this role ↗Source date: 17 May 2019 · Checked 5 Oct 2026
Caryn Trombino and Markus Funk
Perkins Coie investigation · 2018–2019
Led the external investigation commissioned in 2018.
Source for this role ↗Source date: 17 May 2019 · Checked 5 Oct 2026
Sourcebook
Ohio State · release of independent Strauss investigation ↗
Institutional account of Perkins Coie findings; linked report contains graphic descriptions.
Ohio State · investigation and litigation timeline ↗
Includes February and April 2026 settlements. Institutional characterizations of legal disputes are not adopted as court holdings.