I think the original post was perfect. It shows admittance by a former staff that the program was abusive in the past. And the investigators in Oregon are now finding that the abuses by Aspen continued up to the present day when they shut down Mount Bachelor Academy recently
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I am sorry the survivor who opened this thread had to suffer, but glad she found out the truth, painful as it was.
Thank you for your kind words.
The staff from whom I took the quote worked there right up until they closed.
I suppose I should have dealt with all of this back when I left MBA (in 1992), but I was young--I was 12 when I arrived there. I consider myself a very open person; sometimes I need to remember to basically shut up. But the experience of MBA was so...painful, for lack of a better word, that I just pushed it down. I also thought if I told anyone, they would think me a liar, because, after all, that's who MBA said I was, among other things.
I have actually had the same therapist since I got out, like I said, in '92. I've told her every possible detail about my life (though I harshly tested her at first). Yet, I have never told her about MBA. She said recently that she would ask me about it, and I would just change the subject. When I became aware of the investigation, and the closing, as well as the incredible lies and lame comments coming out of Sharon Bitz's mouth (who, I think, is basically her husband, Alex Bitz's sock puppet), all these horrible memories came flooding back. I began to tell my therapist about the Lifesteps, my self study, the groups...she said, had I told her this years ago, she would have immediately called CPS here, as well as CPS in Oregon. She said there is no question that what they did was abuse, and had she known, she would have fought to close it down.
I feel a bit guilty for not telling her sooner. But I was still in "survivor mode", as in, 'I'll do whatever I need to do to survive and get the hell out of here.' Now, almost 20 years later, I'm paying for it. Which sucks, because I know I did nothing wrong. At 12, I did not deserve to be called a "slut, worthless, whore, liar, etc." I remember Alex getting in my face, telling me, (I'm adopted), "Your birth mom was a whore. Her mom was a whore (my b-mom was adopted as well), and you are so worthless, not even a whore wanted you! Now, your second set of parents don't want you either. Being a whore is in your blood, and that's all you'll be." I can picture that, right down to the spit flying out of his mouth onto my chin. It was in 1 of the Lifesteps. And that was the typical stuff that was said, daily, not just to me. I was 12. Let me repeat that. I was 12.
I've also talked to a couple female students who had many inappropriate encounters with Alex Bitz. He allegedly gave 1 girl sleeping pills, had another come to his house 3 times, to do homework or writing assignments, laying on her stomach in front of him, as he just watched. If anyone needs to be in jail, it's him.
Just some examples of Facebook board posts by Alex:
Alexandru Bitz
It's late, I am tired and somehow I am uncomfortable numb right now ... you know, a lot is going on...
Can anybody or yourself email/call/visit me and Sharon and tell us WHEN AND HOW WE ABUSED YOU?
If it was another staff who did harm to you, please let us/me know. I will personally make it public and help you ...
Be good, ... See More
Alex
November 6 at 6:37pm*I wrote him several letters before, that went unanswered, but I decided to write another one with the details of my first 6 months there, and title the letter, "Abuse, Part 1". I knew others wrote him as well, yet nothing else was posted on the board by him, so I posted this:
Hey, where did Mr. Bitz go? He offered answers/help, yet there have been no answers/help. Is this another empty "promise"?
......I don't see any answers from any staff yet....tick tock tick tock.
November 15 at 8:26pmGot a response the next day, on the public board:
Alexandru Bitz
Well Ms. [my last name], a little busy here saying good bye to kids, parents and preparing to be jobless. Yesterday 48 mentors and teachers were let go after years of real meaningful work. And none of them ABUSED anyone. In a month the rest of us , more than 30 mentors and teachers will join the the unemployment line. But in that line we all will be Moreproud of the work that we did . Clear conscience for sure and many people to confirm that.
What about you spending the day today to rejoice that MBA is gone.
I am going to campus to get some pictures and FY clouds and be sad.
Have a nice day.
November 16 at 7:52amIt's all about him, as my therapist said. Nothing about the students, past or present, no kind words to any of us--in fact, snide, sarcastic comments to me. And yet, "it was all for the children...".
I'll post Bill's stuff later...