Michigan State’s Nassar scandal prompted UW review

Athletic department’s findings mostly positive

TOWN OF SOMERS – Shortly after convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar was sent to prison for sexually assaulting multiple gymnasts during medical appointments at his Michigan State University office, the UW-Madison athletic department launched a proactive review of its own policies and practices.

The review — which included interviews and completed surveys from more than 500 student-athletes and athletic department staff — had mostly positive results but suggested security improvements for physical environments, better mental health services, and clearer guidelines for communicating and reporting wrongdoing, according to officials who spoke Thursday at a UW System Board of Regents meeting at UW-Parkside.

The health and safety of students, staff and others in and around collegiate athletic programs has been a topic of national concern for several years.

UW-Madison’s review was not prompted by any particular concern or incident at the state’s flagship campus but was intended to be proactive, Chancellor Rebecca Blank and Athletic Director Barry Alvarez told the regents.

Officials said the goal was to both affirm what is successful and determine what could be improved to protect student-athletes, staff and the university’s reputation.

In the wake of the Nassar scandal, Michigan State has settled hundreds of lawsuits filed by survivors of the sports medicine doctor.

UW-Madison’s athletic department actually began more intensively scrutinizing itself before that — after the Penn State sexual abuse scandal involving former football defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, regent Regina Millner said.

Officials at Penn State purportedly failed to notify law enforcement of incidents after becoming aware of Sandusky’s behavior.

Alvarez said he tells student-athletes and staff if they see something questionable, “Don’t stick your head in the sand, report it.

“We’ll continue to do everything we can to control the things we can control,” the Badgers athletic director told the regents.

Concerns about student-athletes who train and compete in public areas and campus facilities also are

heightened in the wake of last month’s early-morning fatal stabbing of an acclaimed former Iowa State golfer on a golf course near campus. A homeless man was charged with that crime.

Among the recommendations from the UW-Madison’s review:

❚ Greater monitoring of access to, and traffic into, the many facilities used by student-athletes and staff, including better lighting and safety late at night.

❚ To whatever extent possible, while protecting student privacy and comfort, have two physicians or athletic trainers present when care is provided in university spaces to guard against inappropriate treatment or behavior.

❚ Because medical treatment by physicians and athletic trainers happens in more varied locations on the road, including hotel rooms, a committee should be formed to develop a policy for appropriate staffing and treatment locations.

❚ Better awareness among student-athletes about to whom they should report health and safety concerns.

❚ “It is also vital that the department continue to make every effort to educate student-athletes and staff regarding sexual assault and harassment prevention,” the executive summary said.

Regent Janice Mueller said she was troubled by a couple of sentences in the report, including one that said “some members of Department staff suggested that some student-athletes remain confused regarding issues of consent and sexual assault.”

Said Mueller: “There should be no confusion about sexual violence.”