Paige Shiver said she became pregnant with Sherrone Moore’s child while working as his executive assistant at the University of Michigan, a relationship she described as an open secret among staff that school officials ignored despite her attempts to end it.
Shiver described coercive control by Moore over her career and personal decisions
Shiver told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that Moore pressured her to remain in the relationship even after she tried to end it, saying his life would fall apart without her and leveraging his authority as her supervisor to prevent her from leaving. She said he could fire her in a second and that other coaches also had influence over her employment.
University officials failed to act despite widespread knowledge of the relationship
Shiver stated the relationship was well known around South Campus, yet Michigan officials took no action to rein in Moore or protect her, a point echoed by her attorney who called it a systemic failure that enabled a hostile, male-dominated environment at Schembechler Hall. The university prioritized winning over her safety and well-being, according to her legal representative.
Shiver terminated the pregnancy due to health risks from her Pompe disease diagnosis
After becoming pregnant, Shiver was diagnosed with Pompe disease, a serious muscle-weakening condition, and multiple doctors advised her that continuing the pregnancy would not be right or healthy for her body. She said she informed Moore of the situation, and he told her to do what was right for her body before she terminated the pregnancy.
Why did Shiver decide to speak out publicly now?
Shiver said she felt compelled to share her story so other young women would not be caught in similar circumstances where power imbalances go unchecked by institutions meant to protect them.
What was Michigan’s response to the allegations according to Shiver and her attorney?
Shiver and her attorney said university officials ignored the open secret of the relationship and failed to enforce policies, choosing to focus solely on winning at all costs while disregarding her safety and enabling a hostile work environment.
