Michigan State president announces resignation in wake of Nasser scandal

Larry Nassar listens to victim impact statements prior to being sentenced after being accused of molesting about 100 girls while he was a physician for USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University, where he had his sports-medicine practice on January 16, 2018 in Lansing, Michigan.

Before his sentencing on Wednesday, the 54-year-old had already been sentenced to 60 years for possession of child pornography. Amid a crescendo of calls for her to step down, Simon announced her departure in a letter posted on the university’s website.

In her letter of resignation Lou Anna Simon wrote, “As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable”.

Answering that question starts with President Simon.

Some victims say they reported Nassar to Kathie Klages, who ran camps for teen gymnasts and was Michigan State women’s gymnastics coach until last February.

More than 130 women and girls have confronted Nassar or had their statements read in court. “This is not Penn State”, he said, referencing former football coach Jerry Sandusky’s sex abuse scandal at the Pennsylvania school. Her resignation is effective Thursday, Jan. 25. She eventually became the first female president of the university.

That request was denied for “several reasons”, including failure to disclose the Title IX and campus police investigations into allegations against Nassar. The local prosecutor declined to charge Nassar in that case. But she should be held responsible for bottling up the investigation into who at MSU may be culpable in brushing aside complaints and allowing his abuses to continue. Simon has apologized many times to Nassar’s victims.

About three dozen more people want to give statements, raising the overall number to 158 since last week.

Simon’s resignation was welcomed in Michigan’s Legislature, where pressure had been building for her to step down or be ousted. Throughout my career, I have worked very hard to put Team MSU first. Nassar worked for Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, which trains the best gymnasts. “But instead of notifying authorities or even my parents, we were interrogated”.

“We need to find out beyond the president’s office who had reports and didn’t act”, Hertel said.

Rossman-McKinney is not representing MSU or the board. After four hours, they unanimously reaffirm their support for Simon but take no questions from reporters. I support wholeheartedly the Board’s decision to ask the Attorney General’s Office to review the events surrounding the Nassar matter. Four board members would have to change their votes for there to be a presidential change. “Ironically, had she left in December of 2016, nothing that happened after that would have happened to her and resignation last night might not have been an option”, Skubick said.

In his clarification, Izzo says he “used the wrong words” and “my overall message was, and remains, that I have tremendous admiration for the courage the survivors have shown”.

Carter says MSU will eventually move on from Nassar, but not easily.