Michigan State retains president, OKS $500M bond
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State University’s embattled interim president survived an attempted ouster from the school’s governing board Friday as trustees met to approve using a bond to finance a $500 million settlement with hundreds of women and girls who said they were sexually assaulted by sports doctor Larry Nassar.
At the meeting’s outset, trustee Brian Mosallam tried to change the agenda and allow a vote to fire John Engler, who had disparaged accusers and their lawyers in emails. The audience rejoiced, but the board voted 6-2 against taking up the issue, with Mossallam and Dianne Byrum the only trustees voting in favor.
Engler has faced a whirlwind of backlash since the emails surfaced last week. At one point he wrote that Rachael Denhollander, one of Nassar’s most outspoken accusers, probably received a “kickback” from her attorney. Within days, the controversy crested in some 150 Nassar accusers demanding his departure before he apologized in a written statement on Thursday.
“I didn’t give it the consideration it warranted,” he wrote. “That was a big mistake. I was wrong. I apologize.”
Denhollander said Thursday she appreciated Engler’s gesture but remains convinced he cannot lead the university.
Kaylee Lorincz, another Nassar accuser who alleged in a previous board meeting that Engler was trying to pay her off without her lawyer’s input, ended her Friday speech with, “By the way Mr. Engler, I’m still waiting for my apology.” Engler has said he remembered the events differently.