Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon answers a question after being confronted by former MSU gymnast Lindsey Lemke during a break in the sentencing hearing for Larry Nassar. Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison this week for sex crimes.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
How did MSU avoid criminal prosecution for the ‘Larry Nassar scandal’ after the outright collusion and cover-up by adminstrators?
Olympic Scandal Hits Michigan State University
ERIN LOGAN, CLARE LOMBARDO & ANYA KAMENETZ
NPR
Hello and welcome to the latest, college-heavy edition of our weekly roundup of education news. First up …
Michigan State University president, athletic director step down over sex-abuse scandal
Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison this week for sex crimes after a dramatic trial. More than 150 young women, including Olympic medalists, delivered powerful victim impact statements. In addition to his role as the team doctor for USA Gymnastics, Nassar spent nearly two decades as a Michigan State University professor and team doctor for athletes there.
On Wednesday, President Lou Anna Simon announced her resignation. “I am so sorry that a trusted, renowned physician was really such an evil, evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment,” she wrote in her public statement.
On Friday, the university’s athletic director, Mark Hollis, also stepped down. “I am not running away from anything,” Hollis wrote, announcing his retirement. “I am running toward something. Comfort, compassion and understanding for the survivors and our community; togetherness, time and love for my family.”
The departures come amid a flurry of civil lawsuits and as state lawmakers, the NCAA and Michigan’s attorney general look into MSU’s handling of the case.