Accused US violin professor is made to retire

It is reported that Stephen Shipps, 66, accused of 40 years of sexual misconduct, will retire from the University of Michigan’s School of Music in May 2019.

In an email obtained by the student newspaper, Shipps said:

... Yesterday, I received a letter from Dean Gier thanking me for my years of service and placing me on Administrative Leave for the Winter Semester. We agreed that my retirement date would be May 31, 2019. So, with that agreement, I will not be returning to the SMTD.

I ask all of you to honor Dean Gier, as he is a wonderful leader placed in a very difficult position. He has been very fair with me and is a kind man. I am sure he will come up with both a short-term and a long-term solution to this issue. Finally, as part of the terms of the agreement, Dean Gier has requested that I not have contact with my class. I will honor this requirement and I request that you do too, as difficult as that may be….