About 50 people marched through Wheaton College's campus Saturday, Oct. 3, chanting "Ryken resign" and "No more lies" as the homecoming football game began at McCully Stadium.

The two-hour demonstration, first reported by The Wheaton Record, targeted President Philip Ryken's handling of alleged sexual abuse by former employee Dennis Massaro. Protesters gathered at Adams Park, walked past the Meyer Science Building and Billy Graham Hall, and ended at the stadium.

Wheaton alumna Sherry Rediger, class of 1995, organized the march. Massaro's ex-wife Kathy Gallagher and investigative journalist Julie Roys, who first published allegations about Massaro in April on The Roys Report, also attended.

What happened in 1998

Massaro served as director of the Office of Christian Outreach for 19 years before being fired in May 1998 after three male students separately reported allegations of sexual abuse. Then-President Duane Litfin and then-Dean of Students Sam Shellhammer terminated Massaro but required him to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

The NDA carried a $5,000 penalty if he disclosed the circumstances of his departure, according to The Roys Report.

After his firing, Massaro continued attending campus events for nearly two decades. He allegedly sexually abused several Iranian refugees while serving as a pastor in Antalya, Turkey, from 2015 to 2018, according to The Wheaton Record.

The college did not publicly acknowledge the reasons for Massaro's departure until 2024, when Board of Trustees Chair Dale Wong and Ryken emailed students and alumni. The email stated Massaro's employment ended "when allegations of misconduct involving improper sexual touching of students were reported to the College," according to an Aug. 24 Wheaton Record report.

Voices at the protest

Christy Hemphill, a 1999 alumna and mother of two current Wheaton students, opened the demonstration. "People aren't just gonna look away, stick their fingers in their ears, and sing songs about grace and unity," Hemphill said. "People are gonna stand up and say, 'No, this is enough.'"

Brian Wells, a 1991 alumnus, created a Change.org petition titled "Calling Wheaton College to Repentance." It had gathered 2,862 signatures by Saturday. The petition calls on the college to release all parties from existing NDAs, remove the names of Litfin and Shellhammer from campus buildings, place Ryken on leave pending an independent investigation and provide restitution for survivors.

Neal Roys, Julie Roys' husband, spoke in front of Billy Graham Hall while a homecoming event took place outside the building. He said the Wheaton community still has not been told that the college's pattern of prioritizing institutional protection over care for those who were harmed remains misaligned.

College response

Wheaton spokesman Joe Moore told the Daily Herald the college understands why the protest happened and sympathized with those hurt by Massaro and those who feel betrayed by the institution. Moore said the NDA Massaro signed remains in place. Massaro now lives in Florida, according to The Wheaton Record.

In 2024, Wheaton hired a law firm to conduct an independent review of the Massaro case and the college's handling of allegations against him. No results from that review have been made public.

Gallagher said there is no set plan for next steps following the protest. The petition remains open.