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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Thu Jan 25, 2018, 10:37 AM Jan 2018

'As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger': Michigan State leader resigns

Source: The Washington Post

By Susan Svrluga January 25 at 6:45 AM

Michigan State University’s long-serving president resigned Wednesday night in the wake of the Larry Nassar sex-abuse scandal, saying, “As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable.”

Lou Anna Simon, who had been credited with building the public university into a formidable academic center bolstered by fundraising and research prowess, stepped down Wednesday in the face of a wave of public outrage.

Simon said she had planned to retire in 2016 but postponed her departure after learning of allegations about Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State sports doctor who pleaded guilty in November to sexual assault. In a statement released Wednesday night, she spoke directly to survivors, who have challenged her in harrowing testimony in recent days.

“To the survivors, I can never say enough that 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,” Simon said. “I know that we all share the same resolve to do whatever it takes to avert such tragedies here and elsewhere. .?.?. The survivors’ accounts are horrific. They are tragic, heartbreaking, and personally gut-wrenching.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2018/01/24/as-president-it-is-only-natural-that-i-am-the-focus-of-this-anger-michigan-state-leader-resigns-amid-nassar-scandal

4 replies

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'As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger': Michigan State leader resigns (Original Post) DonViejo Jan 2018 OP

I couldn't read the article, they wanted money, but ... JustABozoOnThisBus Jan 2018 #1

See if you can get to it this way BumRushDaShow Jan 2018 #3

To answer at least one of your questions... llmart Jan 2018 #4

More here UpInArms Jan 2018 #2

JustABozoOnThisBus

(23,367 posts)

1. I couldn't read the article, they wanted money, but ...

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Thu Jan 25, 2018, 10:52 AM

Jan 2018

... how much blame should land on a president of a large state university? Does the athletic enterprise really "report to" the university administration, does the administration really oversee the activities of the athletic department? It seems the athletic department is a fairly independent money-tree for the university and the athletic department could hide or bury the odd allegation.

Anyway, Simon fell on her sword, and will now proceed to enjoy her already-delayed retirement. I'm sure there are others at MSU hoping that her retirement is enough, that nobody will look further into any cover-up by the athletic department.

Party on, Spartans.

BumRushDaShow

(129,491 posts)

3. See if you can get to it this way

Reply to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 25, 2018, 11:24 AM

Jan 2018

Link to tweet

TEXT
Susan Svrluga @SusanSvrluga

'As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger': Michigan State leader resigns amid Nassar scandal http://wapo.st/2DDFBO8?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.75a279dd5eeb …
9:21 PM - Jan 24, 2018
‘As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger’: Michigan State leader resigns...

Lou Anna Simon, the president of Michigan State University, sent a resignation letter Wednesday evening after the sentencing of Larry Nassar
washingtonpost.com

llmart

(15,553 posts)

4. To answer at least one of your questions...

Reply to JustABozoOnThisBus (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 25, 2018, 08:14 PM

Jan 2018

Yes, usually the head of the athletics department does report directly to the President of the university, at least it does at the university where I work.

UpInArms

(51,284 posts)

2. More here

Reply to DonViejo (Original post)

Thu Jan 25, 2018, 11:23 AM

Jan 2018

What MSU knew: 14 were warned of Nassar abuse

Reports of sexual misconduct by Dr. Larry Nassar reached at least 14 Michigan State University representatives in the two decades before his arrest, with no fewer than eight women reporting his actions, a Detroit News investigation has found.

Among those notified was MSU President Lou Anna Simon, who was informed in 2014 that a Title IX complaint and a police report had been filed against an unnamed physician, she told The News on Wednesday.

“I was informed that a sports medicine doctor was under investigation,” said Simon, who made the brief comments after appearing in court Wednesday to observe a sentencing hearing for Nassar. “I told people to play it straight up, and I did not receive a copy of the report. That’s the truth.”

Among the others who were aware of alleged abuse were athletic trainers, assistant coaches, a university police detective and an official who is now MSU’s assistant general counsel, according to university records and accounts of victims who spoke to The News.

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