Nassar scandal continues to disgust

At some point, we might run out of adults to fire, right?

At some point, someone compassionate and empathetic and capable of doing the right thing might be put in charge, right?

The fallout from the Larry Nassar scandal goes on and on and on. The latest disgusting moment came this week when Michigan State’s acting interim president, John Engler, told the editorial board at the Detroit News that some of the victims of sexual abuse were “enjoying” their moment “in the spotlight.”

“The ones who are still enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards and recognition,” he said.

Oh, yeah. Rape and molestation. Good times.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was reported that Engler announced he would resign effective Jan. 23. It had been expected that he would have been forced out during an MSU board meeting Thursday morning.

This was just the latest black mark of the scandal within the scandal at Michigan State and other entities involved in the Nassar crimes. Not only did this horror happen, but the bungling and coverups ever since show clearly how it could happen.

Engler took over from former university president Lou Anna Simon, who resigned a year ago as the scandal unfolded. A former Republican governor of Michigan, Engler got the post largely because the Republicancontrolled state legislature threatened the school with the loss of millions in state aid if he didn’t.

Since then, Engler has come under heavy criticism for actions that include rescinding a fund for victim counseling, accusing initial whistle-blower Rachael Denhollander of getting kickbacks from attorneys, offering cash to another victim to drop her lawsuit, releasing personal information about another victim and canceling publication of an alumni magazine issue devoted to the scandal and its impact.

What are these power brokers, who have been charged with helping shape young people’s lives, thinking?

The University of Michigan just had to backtrack on the hiring of a consultant for its gymnastics program. The university hired former USA Gymnastics executive Rhonda Faehn for $15,000 a month. That’s despite the fact that Faehn had been fired from the national governing body amid revelations that, after having been told by athletes of Nassar’s abuse, she delayed reporting the information.

Again, how could Michigan have thought this was the appropriate person to hire?

Engler decried the “spotlight” on the victims. Damn right, they have the spotlight.

They are the only ones in this entire mess who have shown any courage or humanity.