Michigan State University interim president John Engler will not be ousted for a derogatory comment about one of Larry Nassar’s sexual assault victims, following a vote by trustees.
During a meeting about how to pay off a $500 million settlement with hundreds of female victims who were sexually assaulted by Nassar, trustee Brian Mosallam called for a vote to fire Engler. Despite Mosallam’s pleas to change the agenda, Mosallam’s motion was defeated 6-2.
Engler had previously written in an email that outspoken victim Nassar victim Rachael Denhollander had probably received a “kickback” from her attorney. Though Engler apologized later in a written statement, Mosallam apparently felt that wasn’t enough and wanted him gone.
The move to keep Engler may not help MSU much in the court of public opinion.
Kaylee Lorincz thanks two MSU trustees for publicly denouncing interim president John Engler and calling for him to resign. Lorincz says her claims against convicted sexual predator Larry Nassar were called “fake news” pic.twitter.com/BKCHCF3vK5
— Priya Mann (@Local4Priya) June 22, 2018
Sister survivor Morgan McCaul rips MSU’s interim president John Engler’s apology letter and says “unlike you I don’t get paid to sit through these meetings” pic.twitter.com/p6hZML8Y8I
— Priya Mann (@Local4Priya) June 22, 2018
MSU interim president John Engler sits stone faced as Katie Paulot calls his apology “half a***d” and says his comments “showed his true colors, which clearly isn’t teal.” Crowd applauds loudly. pic.twitter.com/zb7aZDyWY5
— Priya Mann (@Local4Priya) June 22, 2018
MSU staffer/alumni Gregory Frens calls himself a “John Engler survivor” and says “it was with horror that I watched his bullying tactics against sister survivors. The culture that enabled Nassar remains intact. I respectfully ask the Board to fire Engler” pic.twitter.com/Y9t8BtLxpk
— Priya Mann (@Local4Priya) June 22, 2018
Under the terms of the settlement, the university will pay $425 million up front and keep the remaining $75 million to pay for future victims claims.
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