Mich. State Reviewing Response to Abuse Allegations Against USA Gymnastics Doctor
The university investigated allegations of sexual abuse but criminal charges were never filed.
Larry Nassar faces charges of sexual abuse of a child and possession of child pornography.
Michigan State University is conducting multiple investigations into school officials’ handling of sexual abuse allegations against former physician and USA Gymnastics volunteer Larry Nassar.
MSU President Lou Anna told the university’s board of trustees the investigations are aimed at determining “how something so abhorrent happened here and went on for so long,” reports the Dayton Daily News.
Nassar has been charged with sexual abuse of a child and possession of child pornography after more than 100 women filed criminal complaints alleging he sexually assaulted them. He has denied all charges.
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Nassar worked at the university from 1997 until September of 2016, when additional woman came forward alleging abuse.
Before that, several students’ allegations of abuse to university officials did not lead to any criminal charges.
Two former Michigan State gymnasts claim they complained about Nassar’s behavior to retired MSU gymnastics coach Kathie Klages in 1997, but those complaints were dismissed, as were complaints from a former softball player in the early 2000s.
In 2014, a former student filed complaints with university police and the Title IX Office, but Nassar was cleared. Following that investigation, Nassar was required to have someone in the room with him when treating students, but he later told police he didn’t always follow those rules.
School officials never told the high school or local gyms where Nassar also worked about the investigations.
All investigations are ongoing.
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