Surviving Ohio State Review: George Clooney Documentary Reveals Jim Jordan’s Inaction

Surviving Ohio State, a gripping documentary on HBO Max, sheds light on the horrific abuse inflicted by Richard Strauss, a former Ohio State University athletics trainer and head of student health. The documentary, produced by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and directed by Eva Orner, focuses on the stories of male survivors, many of whom were members of the Ohio State wrestling team.

Strauss’s reign of abuse spanned over two decades, with over 2,800 documented cases of unwanted sexual touching and 170 reports of rape, while thousands more incidents went unreported. Shockingly, every single assault was attributed to Strauss. Despite the pervasive nature of the abuse, university officials turned a blind eye, allowing him to retire quietly before his death by suicide in 2005.

The heart of the documentary lies in the institutional silence that allowed the abuse to persist unchecked. Coaches, including Representative Jim Jordan, were aware of Strauss’s misconduct but chose to remain silent. The documentary exposes the systemic failure to take action and protect the students under Strauss’s care.

Ohio State’s independent investigation confirmed the abuse, yet individuals in positions of authority, including Jim Jordan, actively ignored the issue. Surviving Ohio State is not a partisan attack but a sobering account of the predator who operated openly and the individuals who failed to intervene. The ripple effects of the abuse continue to impact survivors and their loved ones to this day.

Jim Jordan is just one of many who could have put a stop to the abuse but chose not to. Surviving Ohio State serves as a stark reminder of the profound impact of institutional silence and the importance of holding individuals accountable for their inaction in the face of abuse and misconduct.