Interlochen Center for the Arts Report Details 70 Years of Sexual Misconduct by Faculty

Interlochen Center for the Arts released a 97-page independent report documenting approximately 70 instances of sexual misconduct by 47 former faculty and staff spanning from the 1950s to the 2010s. The investigation was triggered by a 2024 complaint about Byron Hanson, a beloved music faculty member who died in 2021. The report includes firsthand accounts from alumni detailing abuse by named individuals such as Hanson, John Hood, Charlie McWhorter, and Thomas Clower, as well as unnamed respondents. It also reveals sexual contact between Jeffrey Epstein and two students on campus. None of the accused are currently employed; about a third are deceased. Interlochen has sent names to the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor's Office and is establishing a fund for counseling, improving reporting systems, and planning an art installation for survivors. President Trey Devey expressed remorse and commitment to change.