Academy Responds To Emerging Sexual Misconduct Reports

In the wake of last week’s announcement detailing former history instructor Rick Schubart’s two cases of sexual misconduct in the 1970s and 80s (see “Community Reacts to Sexual Misconduct”), The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) censured former Principal Tom Hassan, who retired at the end of the 2014-15 school year, for his handling of the information. As recent as Tuesday, news outlets and the Exeter Police Department reported new allegations of sexual misconduct and/or abuse at the Academy, possibly against at least one current faculty member.

Inspired by last week’s news, more people came forward alleging sexual abuse and/or misconduct at Exeter. John Guilfoil of John Guilfoil Public Relations, the Exeter Police Department’s public relations firm, told The Exonian that the Exeter police are currently investigating four allegations against at least one current or former faculty member. He said that the police will report more information as they uncover it.

“There was such a long delay between his leaving and the facts finally coming out.”

The Boston Globe published an article on Tuesday, April 2 that claimed “the new allegations involve former faculty but not Schubart.” Guilfoil, however, would not confirm Schubart’s lack of involvement to The Exonian.

MacFarlane said that while she was saddened by new allegations in sexual misconduct cases they are not unusual and that the school appreciates peoples’ courage in coming forward. “We believe that Exeter can and will be a better place because of the courage of people coming forward, the honesty of our self-examination, the fairness of our actions and the strength of our commitment to living up to our best selves and highest aspirations as a community.”

Meanwhile, TABS censured Hassan for his failure to disclose Schubart’s misconduct to the association when he learned of it in 2011. TABS recognized Schubart with a leadership award in 2012 without knowledge of the reason behind his sudden retirement in 2011. Hassan issued a public apology on April 1 that cited the victim’s privacy as a major factor in his decision not to inform TABS of Schubart’s misconduct. He went on to apologize for his handling of the information.

Hassan’s wife, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, issued a public apology for listing Schubart as a supporter in her 2012 campaign. In her apology, Gov. Hassan said that she did not know the nature of Schubart’s retirement when she listed him and his wife as supporters in 2012. “My heart continues to go out to the victims and to the entire Phillips Exeter Academy community,” she said.

The community was not notified of Schubart’s reason for retirement when he left the school in 2011. At the time, The Exonian published a fond tribute to him, detailing his many roles at the school and his positive influence on students and faculty alike.

History instructor Michael Golay, who worked with Schubart for ten years, said that he was unsettled by the administration’s handling of the case. “There was such a long delay between his leaving and the facts finally coming out. I felt the administration’s email announcing Schubart’s ‘retirement’ in late 2011 was misleading, that there had to be more to the story,” he said.

After the news of Schubart’s misconduct surfaced last week, many members of the community had trouble reconciling his misconduct with his popularity as a history instructor. Reverend Robert Thompson sparked a debate on Facebook last week when he posted a status that read, solely, “I love Rick Schubart.” Many alumni, such as Heath Marcus ’91, understood Thompson’s sentiment and appreciated his expression. “He was trying to say that we understand that the events are inexcusable, but we need to understand that there’s a person on the other side with a lot going for him and a lot more to consider,” Marcus said. “That doesn’t excuse [Schubart’s] actions or how the Academy handled the information, but [Thompson] wanted to show his support for a longtime friend.”

Other alumni and community members, however, felt differently. Andrew Fleischmann ’79 did not have fond memories of Schubart. “He gave me the creeps,” Fleischmann said. “I thought his unquenchable need for approbation from his charges was palpable.” Fleischmann later added that he in no way claims to have been “prescient” to Schubart’s misconduct.

Fleischmann continued to express his disbelief that members of the Exeter community defended Schubart. “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention. It’s despicable to me as a human, not just a father of children, including a daughter, that anyone is put in this position,” he said.

Seisei Tatebe-Goddu ’01, expressed concern at the amount of support Schubart appeared to have from alumni. In a Facebook comment addressed to alumni, she said, “While I think it’s understandable that many of you want to hold onto good memories of him, understand also that he inflicted real damage that will stay with the survivors and often their families and friends for the rest of their lives.”

Some worried, too, that the allegations’ emergence may harm the school’s reputation and yield in coming years. Director of Admissions Michael Gary said that he wasn’t sure how the news about Schubart would impact this year’s admissions, but that he has not encountered any concerns from prospective parents.

Current students also had varying reactions to the situation. The vast majority of students contacted declined to comment, citing a lack of knowledge concerning the facts of the case, a lack of personal connections with Schubart or a fear of backlash from others as a result of their statements.

Postgraduate Mathias Valenta felt that the reaction to Schubart’s misconduct was blown out of proportion. “I personally have not seen evidence [that] Mr. Schubart hurt anyone: what he did was irresponsible and unprofessional, sure, but from what I could gather he seems legally innocent,” he said. “Placing all the blame on him for a consensual sexual relationship seems unfair, even with the power dynamics at play.”

Senior David Shepley, who knew Schubart from church, had another unique viewpoint.  “[Schubart] was always a friendly and faithful man. Knowing he is a religious man, I think it’s a matter between the victim[s], him and God,” he said.*

Upper Nate Bogardus, whose parents and siblings attended Exeter while Schubart was a teacher, expressed disappointment at the school’s handling of the initial allegations made against Schubart in 2011. “I don’t think the school has dealt with this situation well...what [Schubart] did is clearly not appropriate and it seems like what the school did is more rooted in self interest rather than what was right for the people who have come forward,” he said.