Pressure Mounting on Michigan State President to Resign

As more than 100 women who say they were abused by former Michigan State University (MSU) and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar face him in an extraordinary sentencing hearing that will continue into next week, state lawmakers are calling for school president Lou Anna Simon to resign.

House Democratic Leader Rep. Sam Singh and Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr. issued a joint statement calling for her resignation over the school’s handling of Nassar:

“It is clear that a lack of leadership amongst Michigan State University’s highest ranks allowed victims to suffer in silence for far too long. We owe it to every survivor who had to endure this horrific torture to not only bring justice to the perpetrator, but also ensure that changes are made at the university to prevent this from ever happening again. The current leadership of Michigan State University is clearly unable to handle that responsibility or help students and the university community rebuild.”

"By all accounts, MSU did nothing, and continues to do nothing."

Michigan State student paper calls for the resignation of the university president in aftermath of sexual abuse case. #collegemediahttps://t.co/yWJFAk5GLW

— Jim Rodenbush (@JimRodenbush) January 18, 2018

The student newspaper, the State News, ran an editorial today calling for Simon’s resignation.

According to a report in MLive, former MSU gymnast Lindsey Lemke — who was assaulted by Nassar while she attended the school — feels Simon was responsible.

“I feel she’s trying to manipulate us, make us feel that she’s not responsible when she is responsible, 100%, as president of the university.”

“Larry, I hope you, Lou Anna Simon, Kathie Klages, John Geddert and all of USAG are scared. Because you have pissed off the wrong army of women.” https://t.co/p9EeBnwaGt

— Matt Mencarini (@MattMencarini) January 18, 2018

According to an astonishing report in the Detroit News, at least 14 employees of Michigan State were told about abuse by Nassar, but no action was taken against him. Simon was reportedly notified in 2014 that an MSU sports physician was under investigation, but claims she never saw a copy of the report.

At least eight women were reported to have gone to MSU employees about Nassar as far back as 1992.

Six of Nassar’s accusers recently told HuffPost that they don’t believe MSU and USA Gymnastics have faced sufficient punishment for their failures.

.@michiganstateu President Lou Anna Simon addresses press during a break in the second day of Larry Nassar’s sentencing @detroitnews pic.twitter.com/3DQu7w2w9v

— Sarah Rahal (@SarahRahal_) January 17, 2018