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Lou Anna K. Simon (MSU Photography Services)
"We continue to believe President [Lou Anna] Simon is the right leader for the university," MSU board chairman Brian Breslin says Friday. "She has our support."
Lansing State Journal reporters Eric Lacy and RJ Wolcott cover the outcome of a five-hour trustees' meeting related to handling of Larry Nassar sex abuse complaints by athletes and other students
“Through this terrible situation, the university has been perceived as tone deaf, unresponsive and insensitive to the victims," Breslin said. . . ."We understand the public's faith has been shaken. The board has listened and heard the victims." . . .
In a statement released by the university, Simon said she appreciates the board's confidence and that of "the many people who have reached out to me."
"I have always done my best to lead MSU," she said, "and I will continue to do so today and tomorrow."
Two newspapers and five state legislators have called for her resignation or dismissal in the past two days. Details of a Friday editorial are below.
Original article, Friday morning:
The Detroit News becomes the latest paper to call for the resignation of Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon in wake of the scandal surrounding former school physician Larry Nassar. An editorial says:
"Play it straight" is how President Lou Anna Simon says she advised her Michigan State University staff to handle allegations of sexual misconduct against a MSU physician. But Simon has not played it straight herself, choosing instead to pull a curtain over questions of culpability by university officials in the serial molestation of young girls and women at the hands of Dr. Larry Nassar.
As such, Simon has lost credibility and the confidence of many MSU stakeholders. She should step down or be removed by the board of trustees.
Nassar’s victims, already betrayed by a physician they trusted to ease their pain, should not be let down a second time by a university president more interested in shielding the school from legal liability than finding the truth.
The Lansing State Journal called on its front page for her resignation Dec. 6 and The State News did so Jan. 18.
Also on Thursday, five state lawmakers from both parties said Simon should go:
- Sen. Margaret O'Brien
- Rep. Sam Singh, Democratic leader
- Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr.
- Sen. Arlan Meekhof, Republican leader
- Sen. Jim Ananich, Democratic leader
Nassar has been sentenced to 60 years in prison on child pornography charges. He has yet to be sentenced for sexually assaulting female patients in two Ingham County cases, where victims continue giving impact statements today at his sentencing hearing -- which resumes Monday. Up to 120 women are expected to speak,.
