Stephen Shipps To Retire from University of Michigan Amidst Sexual Assault Allegations

The University of Michigan Violin Professor Stephen Shipps has retired – just months after allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct were leveled at him

It has been announced today that University of Michigan School of Music Violin Professor Stephen Shipps has retired from the school – just months after allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct were leveled at him by a number of past students.

The accusations, published in the Michigan Daily campus newspaper on the 10th of December last year, included reports, by numerous female students, of alleged unwelcome touching, sexual assault – and of maintaining prolonged sexual relations with teenage students.

One of the accusers had made claim she had lost her virginity to the teacher when she was a 17-year-old high school student in the late 1970s.

The 66-year-old had held a teaching position at the University since 1989 - and had previously served as Faculty Director of the University's Strings Preparatory Academy pre-college program.

Mr Shipps took extended leave from the school on the 7th of December, 2018 - 3 days before the Michigan Daily exposé was published.

No charges have been brought against him.