Interlochen and the review of old abuse reports

Interlochen Center for the Arts has engaged the Sanghavi Law Office to carry out an independent external investigation into historical reports of sexual misconduct by former faculty, and the inquiry began in April 2024. The complaints described in interviews and outreach involve teachers who worked at the academy in the 1960s and 1970s, and investigators have been speaking with alumni, former staff and other witnesses. Because many alleged incidents are decades old, some individuals and potential subjects are deceased and criminal prosecution is limited, yet the review aims to document experiences and identify institutional failures.

At the same time, public attention has been renewed by released Department of Justice and other documents that detail Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to the school; in response, Interlochen invited people who say they met Epstein at campus events to speak with the independent investigator. The campus board has approved plans to remove the Green Lake Lodge that once bore Epstein’s name, and the building is being prepared for demolition. While the investigation is ongoing, law enforcement has not been publicly reported as leading the review, and the Sanghavi team is conducting interviews and collecting records.

School leaders say they will listen and offer support to those who come forward, and they have indicated an intention to share findings when the process is complete. Survivors and alumni have pushed for transparency, and national reporting about Epstein’s files has amplified calls for institutions to examine past donations, donor access, and safeguarding practices. The review remains underway and confidential.