The Moral Catastrophe at Michigan State
As a sports doctor for Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics, Larry Nassar assaulted more than 150 young women. Much of this abuse, which spanned more than two decades, occurred in an examination room on MSU’s campus, in a building full of MSU staff. Long before the allegations against Nassar went public, multiple victims described their abuse—how Nassar touched their genitalia during physical-therapy sessions—to MSU coaches, therapists, and administrators. They were told not to worry, that what they’d experienced was “actual medical treatment.” A 2014 investigation into Nassar, conducted by MSU’s Title IX office, found no evidence of misconduct. He was allowed to continue working for the university, treating students on campus, until 2016, when two of his former patients filed additional accusations against him.
After Nassar was sentenced in January to 40 to 175 years in prison, the NCAA launched an investigation into the university’s handling of his case. Victims claimed that MSU had been complicit in the abuse, protecting a doctor well known for his work with the U.S. Olympic gymnastics team. “MSU knew what was being done to these athletes and decided to turn a blind eye to keep their reputation strong and their pockets full,” Olivia Cowan, a former MSU student, said during Nassar’s January sentencing hearing.
Now a new lawsuit that was on Tuesday contains allegations that are even more egregious than those in previous of MSU’s board of trustees who served as the university’s athletic director at the time of the rape—went “to great lengths to conceal this conduct.” The suit is one of filed against MSU and other defendants in federal court on Monday, which the last day victims of Nassar’s sexual abuse could sue the university. ( passed in June allows people who allege they were sexually assaulted by now-convicted physicians to retroactively sue up to 90 days after the physician was convicted.)
