SIAP: Freep Article (Sorry) on MSU "Culture of Silence"

I was going to post the same sentiment. The Freep was curiously silent when these allegations first popped up at the various points in the last decade. And now they just happen to discuss it - once re national media has already blown it open? Hard hitting journalism indeed.

Actually, it was an out of state newspaper, the Indianapolis Star, that broke the Nassar story. The Detroit Free Press has a much larger circulation than the Indianapolis Star, and the Detroit News has a similar circulation, yet it was a non-local paper that exposed Nassar and Michigan State. That should tell you something. How the Indy Star and Rachael Denhollander took down Larry Nassar

credit here, they've only jumped on the bandwagon once it go rolling.  For the last few years they've simply accepted MSU's answers and said "ok" and moved on.  Only now are they digging and with local access and local connections getting a deeper view into the issue.

 

The LSJ was asleep and almost as complicit to a certain degree, for not asking deeper questions or seeking deeper info.  To my knowledge the LSJ has no FOIA demands from MSU like other further afield news organizations have.

 

The Indy Star really did much of the intial leg work

i believe it was a grand rapids reporter who uncovered and reported the appling/payne rape 7 years ago.

"That praise was delivered with good reason. The story of Nassar's downfall started in August, 2016, with the Indianapolis Star and some good, old-fashioned local investigative reporting on Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. The Star's five-month investigation led to a major expose and then to a pivotal email from Rachael Denhollander, one of Nassar's victims. "Without that first Indianapolis Star story in August of 2016, without the story where Rachael came forward publicly shortly thereafter, he would still be practicing medicine, treating athletes and abusing kids," Povilaitis said."

*

No time to lose the smug look...Coach D is busy "Re-Centering". 

NM

There are still plenty of people who despise PSU and Baylor.  The media is done condemning them because the guilty parties are gone, but the court of public opinion hasn't by any means exonerated them.

that after Justice is finally served to every last deserving person - this is the story that will remain. These brave women survivors are never going away, and the army that comes out of the darkness of fear and shame and isolation to join them will be more powerful than anything you have ever witnessed. Victims will forever be known as survivors and their voices will all be heard, and more justice will continue to be meted out. “Nobody listened and nobody believed us”’ is the resounding theme of all of this. That stops now. This is a warning for anyone in any position of power or authority that has either injured someone or looked the other way. The fear at this point should be very, very real. #TIME’S UP

The sad thing is I think some of these people thought they were doing the victims a favor by not letting it get out of hand. Because “they couldn’t handle it”. I think morally, this is how they’ve lived with themselves and it’s appalling. It’s systemic and needs to stop.

than the school, if that is even possible. It hasn't gotten as much attention yet, but I certainly hope someone important shines a light on this part of the story. It's true in other places, but this is their job, it's what we pay them for. If just 1 person had the balls* to stand up and be counted like the last 15 year old survivor we wouldn't be here talking about this today.

*'girls have got balls, they're just a little higher up, that's all' - Joan Jett

have been slow to get on board.  They are on board now, though, and will be attentive to all further developments.  Multiple national news outlets also on board. Special prosecutor appointed by the AG office.  Feds involved.  

Multiple sports involved and not just the revenue sports.

Some outlets will focus more on USA gymnastics; although the sentence "employed by Michigan State University" will be impossible to avoid.  

Don't know what the repercussions are to Dantonio and Izzo, except there will be something.  At the very least, a level of scrutiny that will make it impossible for them to continue doing things as they have been.  

 

Izzo's as big a shithead as Dantonio.  He's just better at hiding it with his "Aw shucks, I'm from the UP and don't have any book learnin'" shtick.

The man named his son after Mateen Cleaves, not long after Cleaves was accused of assault.

What amazes me is how often people mistakenly believe that "protecting the brand" compels them to do the opposite of "the right thing." The brand will always suffer far worse - and longer lasting - damage when cover-ups (inevitably) come to light.

and for God's sake, don't start spouting off about "the healing process" after wins