I think the interim president is attempting to develop a false narrative to remove focus on the university regarding the extensive sexual assault charges surrounding Michigan State's negligence in dealing with these issues. This is gross negligence by the university. There is no other way to put this and now the interim president is attempting to divert attention to other issues.
Michigan State needs to take these issues head on, no different than any other establishment in the USA. I am worried now that attitudes willing to sweep bad news under the carpet is more of the same tolerance of sexual abuse and assault that exists.
It is difficult to break down a corrupt culture. I wonder how pervasive it was with this narrative now coming to the surface.
June 13, 2018
East Lansing – Emails show (click here) the interim president of Michigan State University criticized lawyers who represent Larry Nassar’s assault victims and said a former gymnast who sued the school was probably was getting a “kickback” from her attorney.
John Engler’s remarks were made to a university lawyer in April, a month before Michigan State agreed to a $500 million settlement with hundreds of women and girls who said they were assaulted by Nassar, a sports doctor. The Chronicle of Higher Education reportedon the emails Wednesday.
Engler said he thought victims were “being manipulated by trial lawyers” and that lawyers would get “millions of dollars more” than their clients.
Engler said he thought Rachael Denhollander was likely getting a kickback from her lawyer. She has been outspoken and in 2016 was the first to publicly say she was a Nassar victim.
Denhollander says Engler’s comments reflect a “culture of abuse.”
