Former gymnast Denhollander "beyond disappointed" in Engler as interim MSU President
The first gymast to go public about Nassar, Rachael Denhollander, is "beyond disappointed" in the choice of former governor Engler as interim President at MSU.
"Engler is a deep political insider at MSU," she said in her Facebook post. "At a time the university desperately needs, and survivors pleaded for, outside accountability and leadership, the board chooses one of the most entrenched insiders."
LINK: Nassar survivor Rachael Denhollander 'beyond disappointed' by Engler choice
Glad to see this public statement. She is only echoing what has been said here by so many posters: as long as a culture of insiders are in control, there will be no true transparency or accountability at MSU. However, when gymnasts come out and are vocal about their anger and their disappointment, it might possibly force things to be done the right way. I'm personally sceptical.
January 30th, 2018 at 4:25 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 4:39 PM ^
it's not unprecedented for a former governor to be a University President (see Oklahoma & Purdue).
Denhollender is correct when she says "MSU desparately needs ... leadership." Maybe Engler provides that, maybe he doesn't. Let's see. If he doesn't - vote out the MSU Board members who made this choice.
January 30th, 2018 at 5:55 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 11:23 PM ^
I appreciate your wait and see, give him a chance approach, as that would normally be my tact. However this situation needs scrubbed from top to bottom, no margin for error and without the slightest inkling of sweeping anything under the rug.
January 31st, 2018 at 4:13 PM ^
of course they were part of the culture since that was their network. And being stupid. After listening to them on have their say. Yes.
January 30th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
So far, I have not been thrilled with UM partisans on the board who want to pile on MSU. But seeing Engler as President moves me into the camp of wanting to see MSU suffer real pain. So far, I have thought that MSU was better than PSU. But now I'm wondering.
I really hope that all the gymnasts who came forward will keep up the pressure. But until the student body, and more than that, the alumni, demand real change and real accountability, I don't see anything good coming of this.
January 30th, 2018 at 4:12 PM ^
to a machine to keep him alive... a refrigerator
January 30th, 2018 at 4:17 PM ^
When John Engler was Gov he loved to attack Teachers, public schools, and the Teachers untions - my opinion. So Sparty put him in charge of a school? Hummmm
January 30th, 2018 at 5:04 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 4:24 PM ^
I see where everyone coming form re: not too happy with Engler. But it shouldn't be surprizing (who'd we hire for AD when Brandon got shitcanned? an Alum the Pres could trust - their board is doing the same thing with this). Don't @ me re: this comparison, I know it's not quite apples-apples.
My point is, this is a temp stop gap - JE will be on the job for 6-18 months at the most. Get upset about the next full time pres they hire that has ties to MSU - The BoT for MSU is clearly incompetant b/c half have no business on a state U board - Perles FFFS? A Breslin? Those other 2 jokers - one with an assault charge and the other with the foot in mouth the last week?
the whole BoT needs to be removed, but force via the Govs. office or by vote.
January 30th, 2018 at 4:30 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 4:49 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 5:15 PM ^
...what's the opposite of hope?
January 30th, 2018 at 5:32 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 5:36 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 6:16 PM ^
dispair
January 31st, 2018 at 1:06 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 5:25 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 6:21 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^
No. I think 1st overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft Kwame Brown is the right man for the job.
January 30th, 2018 at 5:27 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 5:45 PM ^
So let me get this straight...nationwide we keep hearing that we need outsiders to clean up MSU and we get:
-An Interim President that is a MSU grad, MSU slappie, with MSU connections to the old guard and those who will be investigated.
-An Attorney General who adores Dantonio and gets major campaign contributions from MSU big wigs like Secchia who may get investigated....who then appoints...
-The lead investigator who gets money and retirement parties thrown by MSU big wigs and is friends with some on the board of trustees at MSU.
And they call this an "outside" investigation. Our state is a freaking joke.
January 30th, 2018 at 5:52 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 6:09 PM ^
are exactly my thoughts.
January 30th, 2018 at 6:19 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 6:34 PM ^
Just pitiful and typical all at the same time. The only accountability we might see would be through a civil lawsuit with a team that actually has any interest in getting to the bottom of things.
January 30th, 2018 at 6:20 PM ^
is going to be swept under the rug
January 30th, 2018 at 6:27 PM ^
She is the WRONG person to disappoint. That young woman is highly intelligent, profoundly driven, extremely brave and, finally, incredibly supported (not by MSU, but the rest of the planet).
She and her "survivor sisters" are watching MSU closely and will continue to even if, as many here are predicting, the media starts to move on to the next scandal.
I have a feeling that she will not rest until MSU has truly stepped up and completed a fair and thorough investigation. Also, I suspect she won't have any trouble getting some high powered legal minds working with/for her in her quest.
I would think of her as MSU's Erin Brockovich.
Go girl. Constant pressure will find weaknesses sooner or later.
January 31st, 2018 at 12:05 AM ^
hopefully she and many of the other victims can lawyer-up and create a watch dog group to oversee the actions of this investigation; if it's possible.
January 30th, 2018 at 7:21 PM ^
January 31st, 2018 at 6:04 AM ^
Forsyth is a Republican, make no mistake, but if you think he is going to look the other way on blatant sexual assault, you are incredibly misinformed.
He will do everything he can to help the good ole boys, but within the confines of the truth. He is very smart, a great trial lawyer, and twice the advocate that Schuette is. Sell him short at your own risk.
January 30th, 2018 at 8:14 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 8:30 PM ^
January 30th, 2018 at 10:01 PM ^
January 31st, 2018 at 6:01 AM ^
Who better to lead a group of people looking backwards than a lying, pig farmer from Beal City, MI?
MSU administration proves, once again, that if there is something to do with respect to their sexual assault crisis, they will do the absolute wrong thing every time.
This move will come home to roost along with all their other attempts at a cover up.
January 31st, 2018 at 8:55 AM ^
They have their own reasons for not wanting Engler as their interim president. If the vote passes, they will ask for the immediate removal of the entire BoT. I wonder if Snyder would then step in and remove them.