MSU Seeks Attorney General Review of Nassar Case

Submitted by Wolverine In Iowa 68 on

Just saw this in the news.

According to an article posted today on WSJ:

"Michigan State University’s board of trustees on Friday asked the state’s attorney general to review the events surrounding the case of Larry Nassar, the former sports medicine doctor who pleaded guilty to sexual abuse against a number of girls and women."

"The university’s student government late Thursday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the board and administration for its handling of sexual assault and calling for administrators “to take ownership and responsibility for their negligence and willful ignorance” regarding Nassar’s crimes."

 

I question if the board of trustees is doing this because of pressure, because they HONESTLY think nothing wrong was done, or as a PR move trying to save face.  But, if it leads to a resolution, and responsible heads rolling as they need to, maybe it will make a difference.

Here's a  link to the article:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/michigan-state-university-seeks-attorney-general-review-of-nassar-case-1516379621

 

MGoBoard

NittanyFan

January 19th, 2018 at 1:14 PM ^

I used that phrase in a post here back last spring.  It's not really an MSU-specific thing.  Many organizations don't act until they absolutely have to - the MSU BoT is yet another example.

Anyway, we've now reached that point where action is necessary.

Joined: 12/04/2012

MGoPoints: 42970

NittanyFan

January 19th, 2018 at 2:37 PM ^

People --- especially as they get older --- are just like objects.  They have a tendency to remain unchanged unless some great force acts upon them.

It's never surprised me that there exists a segment of (disproportionately older) PSU folk who are resistant to changing their worldview of "JoePa was a Saint."

Is what it is.  I could devote my life to hollaring and yelling at those folk - they won't change their opinion.  They'll die eventually though.

 

Joined: 12/04/2012

MGoPoints: 42970

UMVAFAN

January 19th, 2018 at 2:26 PM ^

Whether it's MSU, UM, PSU, Harvard, UCF, or any other institution of higher learning, the University/College president is concerned with three things in my experience: 1) The research portfolio of the institution, 2) Big capital projects (new academic buildings, dorms, stadiums, etc.), and 3) Making the people that pay for 1 and 2 happy (i.e. big donors, Federal and state governments, corporations). They spend most of their time going to meetings and events with government officials, big donors, corporate leaders, and other University leaders both internally and nationally. For better or worse, most don't spend time worrying about students and their needs. They have other administrators to take care of the "small issues" whether it be a Dean of Student Affairs, Chief of Campus Police, etc.. Whether something like the Nasser situation ends up on their desk is a big if. And if it does get there, what is the moral compass of the leader? Do you legitimately investigate and jeopardize your work on 1, 2 and 3 above or sweep it under the rug, cover it up, pay people off, and hope it doesn't go public? I think MSU's president went with the latter and it will jeopardize a lot more than if she did the former.

Joined: 10/15/2013

MGoPoints: 5013

FauxMo

January 19th, 2018 at 1:16 PM ^

You know your organization is FUCKED when you proactively ASK an outside governmental body with the ability to brutally punish you to investigate... 

Joined: 06/17/2010

MGoPoints: 137521

ijohnb

January 19th, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^

it is more a sign of just serious internal institutional dysfunction.  I'm not sure that anybody in the MSU administrator or within the Board of Trustees even knows who has the power to do what and who should act.  I think they have completely lost control of this situation.  To me, this is kind of like saying "we don't know what to do and everything that we do keeps making it worse so could you tell us what to do to make it not-worse?"  What a mess.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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wolpherine2000

January 19th, 2018 at 6:03 PM ^

... with evidence being that at least one member of the administration may have had prior knowledge, asking for an objective assessment by an outside organization is the only responsible thing a board can do. In that situation, even the most evenhanded and clinical internal investigation is going to be clouded by suggestions (perhaps even on mgoblog) that there was undue influence.

Joined: 07/10/2009

MGoPoints: 8827

MGoPoe

January 19th, 2018 at 2:24 PM ^

Could their requesting of an AG investigation just be a CYA move?  Look into what MSU was actually culpable for and use the findings as a basis against the inevitable civil suits coming their way?

"We weren't aware until xxxx date" so any victim seeking damages prior to this date will receive a smaller settlement?

Joined: 10/06/2013

MGoPoints: 1446

Mr Miggle

January 19th, 2018 at 1:25 PM ^

They want an investigation to be narrowly focused on whether they broke the law. You might get that from the AG. What they don't want is an investigation into how their culture allowed them to make so many mistakes, be they ethical, organizational, poor judgment, etc and who is responsible for that.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47544

MGlobules

January 19th, 2018 at 1:44 PM ^

coach who worked closely with Nassar--that they screamed at these young women endlessly, denied them water when they f'd up, etc.--you have to assume it goes wider than MSU, too. And we know that in some cases it's wider than gymnastics. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47521

1VaBlue1

January 19th, 2018 at 3:05 PM ^

Those accusations against Bela Karolyi go back decades.  He was known for being strict, demanding, and (more or less) abusive back in the late 80's...  But being screamed at and denied water are far less traumatic than sexually abusing the girls.

You wanna be a good gymnast?  Karoli can turn you into one.  But you're going to get yelled at when you mess up or don't try.

You wanna be a good gymnast?  Karoli can turn you into one.  But you're going to be sexually abused in the process.

Two very different propositions...

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 126624

redwhiteandMGOBLUE

January 19th, 2018 at 3:19 PM ^

at the Karolyi ranch, both of your scenarios are the exact same proposition.

The ranch is owned and operated by coaching legends Marta and Bela Karolyi. At least a half-dozen elite gymnasts say they were abused there by Larry Nassar, former doctor for the national team and the head medical professional at USA Gymnastics.

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/in_wake_of_nassar_scandal_u…

Joined: 07/08/2008

MGoPoints: 34127

MGlobules

January 19th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^

but that the abuse was part of a wider culture of abuse. And the long ESPN investigative piece published early in the week suggested that they went hand in hand--that Nassar played good cop to the bad cop of at least one abusive coach, which made it all the harder for the very young girls--who were already mandated to accept his treatments--to identify his abuse as abuse. 

A great many people think that coaching and abuse go together, though, that they are acceptable, and this IS the idea I am challenging. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

MGoPoints: 47521

redwhiteandMGOBLUE

January 19th, 2018 at 8:33 PM ^

My point was these poor kids were stuck in the horrible position that both went hand in hand at the Karolyi ranch. Sadly, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg.  

I fully believe that more kids and adults will be coming forward to report abuse in other sports and their respective facilities as was the case with former nhl player Sheldon Kennedy - https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/former-nhl-player-sheldon-kennedy-says-sex-abuse-turned-him-into-a-zombie-1.3049355

Joined: 07/08/2008

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East German Judge

January 19th, 2018 at 1:31 PM ^

MSU students and proud Alums, stand up and claim back your University from this incompetent board of trustees and administration as you have more power than you think. They have done nothing but conceal a predator and destroy your University's reputation.

Joined: 10/05/2014

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Lampuki22

January 19th, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^

Every MSU grad I've talked to is blaming this entirely on one evil dud, Nassar, and fails to see that the real issue is that they turned a blind eye and are now covering it up.  They refuse to take responsiblity. 

I had to look it up. Schuette is Dow.  He went to Georgetown, not MSU or Michigan.  But you are correct there's no way he tries to take this on while running for governor, if he can avoid it.

I simply can't believe they are defending these people.  Only logical explaination,... there's something way worse coming if Simon rolls.  Like a cover up. 

Joined: 09/16/2009

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Sopwith

January 19th, 2018 at 1:46 PM ^

and obviously the top officials who would have spoken to investigators then are going to be close-lipped now, and heavily lawyered up.

The bigger qustion is why AG Bill Schuette has been so thoroughly disinterested in investigating this matter for so long that the entity itself finally requested an inquiry.

Joined: 06/29/2010

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redwhiteandMGOBLUE

January 19th, 2018 at 3:24 PM ^

"A full and complete review, report and recommendation of what occurred at Michigan State University is required and I will provide that. However, this week and the coming weeks are time for the survivors of Larry Nassar to have their day in court, and I refuse to upstage their time for healing," Schuette said in the statement.

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2018/01/ag_schuette_will_review_msu…

 

Joined: 07/08/2008

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Sopwith

January 19th, 2018 at 8:52 PM ^

When you're leading an investigation of potential criminal activity, you don't sit on your ass for over a year letting potential witnesses' memories fade or "evolve." The longer you wait, the harder an investigation becomes. People see which way the wind is blowing and decide they'd better clam up to cover their own ass.

Schuette is simply doing some CYA of his own in that statement.

Joined: 06/29/2010

MGoPoints: 61017

lhglrkwg

January 19th, 2018 at 3:06 PM ^

Weird that MSU's BoT one day publically supports Lou Anna Simon but then in the same week asks the AG to investigate. I assume this means they feel extremely confident that LAS acted appropriately

Joined: 07/03/2008

MGoPoints: 87881

DOBlue48

January 19th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^

This is nothing more than a PR move.  The AG dosn't need their request to go in and do a full investigation.  He can do that on his own, and, while much slower than many have wanted, an investigation was sure to have come regardless of what the MSU slapdicks "request".  This is merely them knowing what is coming at them and trying to spin it as if they, being the transparent and wholesome group that they are, are damn well going to get to the bottom of this issue.

Such amateur bullshit it is difficult to stomach.

The BoT at MSU has known about these allegations for years and is just now voting to move forward with a fucking outside investigation??  Translation....someone on that board has watched some of the live feed coming from the court and has sounded the alarm that says:  These girls are all piling on MSU in their victim statements and we need to take action to show that we are on top of this issue.

Too little, too late.  They are trying to catch flies with chop-sticks at this point and it is only going to get worse.  The media (whom I am not typically a fan) have latched onto this and there will be hell to pay.  

So, happy Friday MSU BoT and top administration.  Suspect my weekend will be far superior to yours.

Joined: 10/21/2015

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You Only Live Twice

January 19th, 2018 at 3:48 PM ^

the very definition of insanity.

The Board must feel very strongly that they can ride this out and re-direct all the reactions to  victim testimony to Nassar somehow acting alone.  That is quite a gamble.  Probably a stupid one.  Simon's reputation is not fixable from here on in, and the longer she stays, the longer her reputation impacts the University.  The trustees could have dismissed her without admitting any liability, and they still didn't do it... wow.

Joined: 09/14/2013

MGoPoints: 9615

Hotel Putingrad

January 19th, 2018 at 4:20 PM ^

I mean, are they all completely lacking in any sense of good judgement? That they CONTINUE to stand by her is just appalling. I don't know who their biggest donor is (maybe Gilbert) but if I were that person, I would make a very public pronouncement on how criminally offensive keeping her in authority is.

Joined: 12/10/2014

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kehnonymous

January 19th, 2018 at 4:26 PM ^

...because if - after this week - the Board of Trustees and Simon think the more-than-140 girls(!) and women are going to let this quietly go away, they're even more stupid than they are evil.

Joined: 11/25/2011

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