Allegations that Michigan State University staff failed to properly handle claims that the now notorious Dr. Larry Nassar sexually assaulted a number of student-athletes have been dropped, for the most part, according to a recent report issued by the institution.

The institution’s report clearing most of its personnel comes a year after Michigan State was slapped with a $4.5 million fine by the U.S. Department of Education. The institution also reportedly pledged to modify how it handles charges of sexual abuse in the school and harassment claims.

According to a report by WHIOTV7, as a part of a 2019 agreement with the U.S. Department of Education, the school investigated whether its current and former staff properly handled complaints against Nassar over the years. The school reportedly found that most staff members did act appropriately.

The actions taken by medical staff from the athletic department, coaches, and certain faculty were reportedly investigated by Michigan State. The president of the university told Lansing State Journal reporters that the institution conducted the investigation in response to federal investigators’ questions about what was done in response to allegations of sexual abuse and harassment by Nassar in the context of MSU policies.

According to the resulting letter of findings issued by the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR), there were a number of instances in which allegations of abuse by Nassar may have been inappropriately handled by MSU employees.

One such case includes the lack of action by Nassar’s former supervisor. The report indicates that the supervisor, William Strampel, was the subject of a 2014 investigation resulting in his conviction for neglect of duty for failing to supervise Nassar. Reportedly, Strampel stopped working for the university in 2018.

The report also indicates that a former MSU gymnastics coach faces three months of jail time over allegations that she lied to the police about claims of sexual abuse by Nassar made by two teenagers in 1997. The coach, Kathie Klages, maintains that she cannot recall the report made to her by the teens who were taking part in a youth gymnastics program.

Though the teens’ allegations were not required to be reported to MSU because the youth program was not affiliated by the university, the Education Department’s report notes that Michigan State may have responded to the allegations had it known.

In addition, a psychology professor who has since retired failed to report a disclosure of sexual assault by Nassar made in 2004 during an independent counseling session, according to the Education Department’s report.

The report also details an effort made by MSU campus police to prepare a case against Nassar; however, the case was dropped by prosecutors who concluded that Nassar was performing an “innovative” medical technique.

“Too many people in power knew about the behaviors and the complaints and yet the predators continued on the payroll and abused even more students,” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said after two federal investigations into the university’s actions ended, according to a report by the Associated Press. “This must not happen again, there or anywhere else.”

Michigan State Sexual Abuse Investigation Results in Fines and Policy Changes

Despite concluding that most current and former Michigan State staff and faculty did not violate campus policy, the institution still faces millions in fines and is still undergoing sweeping policy changes as a result of the investigations into Larry Nassar’s crimes. The school is not alone – the University of Southern California settled a class action lawsuit for $215 million in claims of abuse by Dr. George Tyndall.

In January 2018, Nassar reportedly admitted to perpetrating years of sexual abuse on gymnasts and others, telling victims and their parents that the abuse was a part of their medical treatment. According to the Associated Press, Nassar has since been sentenced to between 40 and 175 years in prison.

More than 150 women reportedly issued statements detailing the sexual abuse perpetrated by Nassar. Much of the abuse occurred while Nassar worked as a doctor in the gymnastics program.

After the sentencing, the then president of Michigan State reportedly resigned over concerns about how the university handled disclosures of sexual abuse by Nassar over the years.

As of September 2020, in their first year of federal review, MSU has accomplished a number of the tasks defined by the OCR. MSU Board of Trustees chair Dianne Byrum, told MSU Today, “These actions can’t undo the harm to sexual assault survivors, but we are working to prevent future abuse and improve the overall culture at MSU.” The work is still ongoing.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.