By Laurie Niles: Violinist Stephen Shipps has officially retired from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance, following a December article in The Michigan Daily that described allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct against Shipps that spanned a 40-year time period.![Stephen Shipps]()
Violinist Stephen Shipps.
Shipps' retirement took effect Feb. 28, 2019, according to a Sunday article in The Michigan Daily.
Shipps was placed on administrative leave Dec. 7, several days before the original article was published. Shipps, 66, also stepped down as Chair of Strings at Michigan and as director of the Strings Preparatory Program, a university-affiliated pre-college music program for local middle and high school students, according to the article.
Shipps taught violin at Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance nearly 30 years, since 1989. He served as the associate dean for academic affairs from 2002 to 2007 and as a member of the Music, Theatre & Dance Schools executive committee from 2001 to 2004. Before that he taught at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, from 1980 to 1989.
No charges have been brought against Shipps, who has not publicly responded to the allegations.
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Violinist Stephen Shipps.