St. Ignatius is a part of the fabric of San Francisco – and, as a community, we are proud of the impact its students and alumni have had on our City, State, and Country.  But, the soul of SI is in danger.  Father Eddie Reese, the President of SI, has knowingly ignored issues that directly impact the safety of SI’s students.  

Most recently, instead of addressing an issue of student safety, he ignored information, allowed students to be mentally abused, and considered the matter “closed” when a coach resigned. At least as early as mid-February of this year, Fr. Reese knew that SI’s women’s lacrosse coach had surrendered her license to practice as a psychologist in the State of Maryland because she had engaged in highly inappropriate behavior with a patient. This is her letter of resignation.

The patient, a former United States Marine, sued the United States Veterans Administration for failing to properly supervise his psychotherapist, who had taken advantage of her authority and influence over him to manipulate and abuse him. This is the court’s decision allowing that lawsuit to go forward.

Fr. Reese knew all of this. The young women being coached by this individual didn't. And those young women’s parents didn’t.

Fr. Reese failed to see any reason why SI students should not be placed under the authority and influence of such an individual. Fr. Reese failed to see any reason why parents of these student athletes should be made aware of the coach’s history. Moreover, Fr. Reese has punished those that brought the information to his attention – those who sought to protect the safety of students and the credibility of the beloved Institution.  

St. Ignatius refuses to investigate his actions and St. Ignatius refuses to take action.  

The Board is aware of Fr. Reese’s manipulation and inaction – yet, they too refuse to act. They fail to see that the President of SI should be someone with clearer vision, a vision that puts the students’ safety before a “W” on the field. St. Ignatius is better than this – its community is better than this.  We must take action to ensure St. Ignatius protects its students and its reputation.

Please sign below so that we may forward the following Petition to the Board of Trustees:

We are parents of SI students, alumni, donors, and other members of the SI community. We believe that SI students have the right to a safe environment, and that SI leadership has a responsibility to provide that environment. Recent reports indicate that SI leadership has failed in that regard.

We ask the Board of Trustees to investigate the causes of that failure, and to take immediate steps necessary to ensure that the administration maintains student safety as a top priority.