MICHIGAN — A report released in July 2026 details decades of sexual misconduct at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. The investigation documents approximately 70 allegations of sexual abuse against nearly 50 adults affiliated with the school from the 1950s to the 2010s.

The Interlochen Center for the Arts hired the Sanghavi Law Office in 2024 to investigate abuse at the school. The Interlochen Center for the Arts reported that approximately 150 unique individuals spoke to the Investigative Team at least once, with the majority being alumni. Approximately 70 individuals provided firsthand accounts of sexual misconduct involving 47 adults affiliated with Interlochen. The Investigative Team received approximately 70 firsthand accounts of physical conduct of a sexual nature by adults affiliated with Interlochen, with the total number of respondents reported to have engaged in such conduct being 47.

Paul Busch was sexually abused by his ballet teacher, Thomas Clower, at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in 2005 when Busch was 16 years old. Clower pleaded guilty to abusing Paul Busch. In 2005, former arts teacher Clower was convicted of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct in relation to actions at Interlochen. Paul Busch is sharing his experience of sexual abuse publicly for the first time.

The report also alleges that Jeffrey Epstein targeted victims at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Interlochen stated it has implemented safety measures including a team of school counselors, social workers, and a psychologist. The Interlochen Center for the Arts was established in 1928.

The National Interagency Fire Center reported 183 new fires, including eight large ones, started across the U.S. since Saturday, August 8, 2026. Nearly a dozen wildfires in Utah have burned more than 300,000 acres as of August 9, 2026. Two pilots died on Friday, August 7, 2026, when their helicopter crashed while fighting the Widemouth 2 Fire in Fishlake National Forest, Utah. The Widemouth 2 Fire has burned more than 118,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in Utah this year.

The report covers a period spanning from the 1950s to the 2010s, implicating dozens of adults in alleged misconduct. The institution engaged an external law firm in 2024 to conduct the investigation, resulting in interviews with approximately 150 individuals. The findings include both historical convictions and new allegations brought forward by alumni and other affiliates.

Why It Matters

The report connects decades of institutional abuse to high-profile figures like Jeffrey Epstein and confirmed criminal convictions, illustrating a pattern of misconduct spanning from the 1950s to the 2010s. Public testimony from survivors such as Paul Busch shows the long-term impact on alumni while the school implements new safety protocols including counselors and social workers. These findings establish a historical record of harm involving nearly 50 adults and approximately 70 allegations within the arts education sector.