Michigan State head resigns under pressure
DETROIT — Michigan State University’s interim President John Engler submitted his resignation Wednesday amid public backlash over his comments about women and girls sexually assaulted by now-imprisoned campus sports doctor Larry Nassar. Engler, who had resisted earlier pressure to resign, announced his plans in an 11-page letter to Dianne Byrum, chairwoman of Michigan State’s Board of Trustees. It makes no mention of recent criticism of his remarks and instead lists what he considers to be his accomplishments in his one year of service, saying the university is a “dramatically better, stronger institution.” He said his resignation is effective on Jan. 23.
His sudden reversal tops off a stormy period for the university under Engler and is the second time a Michigan State president has left during the Nassar scandal.
The final straw for the university’s board came last week when Engler told The Detroit News that Nassar’s victims had been in the “spotlight” and are Engler “still enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards and recognition.”
Nassar is serving decades-long prison sentences for sexually assaulting patients and possessing child pornography.
The AP left messages Wednesday seeking comment from Engler, who was hired last February following the resignation of president Lou Anna Simon over the Nassar scandal.
After Engler was hired by the board, Michigan State agreed to a $500 million settlement with 332 women and girls who said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar. Of that, $75 million will cover future claims.
In April, Engler told another university official in emails that Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to go public with her accusations about Nassar, was probably getting a “kickback” from her attorney.
Denhollander told the AP Wednesday that her hope is that the board “is signaling at least the beginning of a true change in direction and tone.”
“What [Engler] has communicated is that survivors who speak up will be attacked and blamed and shamed,” she said, “that those who push for change are going to be accused of enjoying the spotlight, that they will be lied about.”