Chork

January 26th, 2018 at 1:27 PM ^

They can probably just burn that whole place to the ground. I’m wondering if there could be some sort of death penalty to numerous MSU sports teams. Probably not but this is the most Penn State look we have seen since Sandusky, and probably even worse. Gross.

Joined: 07/23/2012

MGoPoints: 2050

BassDude138

January 26th, 2018 at 3:34 PM ^

It was mainly the trustee's, as evidenced by Ferguson's comments, and it had everything to do with money. Probably a little bit to do with her willingness to acknowledge the importance of strong athletics when raising said money, and therefore allowing that department to operate like the mafia.

Joined: 03/01/2016

MGoPoints: 3977

DelhiWolverine

January 26th, 2018 at 1:30 PM ^

OTL isn't pulling any punches. This is the best piece I have read so far about the systemic failures of MSU re: handling sexual abuse allegations.

Particularly troubling was this info provided by a former MSU sexual assault counselor:

"Yet former Michigan State sexual assault counselor Lauren Allswede, who left the university in 2015 over frustrations about how administrators handled sexual assault cases, told Outside the Lines that MSU administrators' entire approach to such cases has been misguided for years. The biggest issue? Complaints involving athletes were routinely investigated and handled by athletic director Hollis' department, and sometimes even coaches, she says."

Letting the AD and coaches handle the investigations of allegations themselves demonstrates a clear conflict of interest. The pot has started to boil and Simon and Hollis are only the first to jump out. Things are about to get really dificult for Dantonio and Izzo.

Joined: 11/26/2017

MGoPoints: 11890

Mr Miggle

January 26th, 2018 at 3:14 PM ^

issues in the AD. I read a first hand account from a woman who attended a training session for their mandatory reporters this week. A first step towards cleaning up their problems. Numerous attendees resisted the guidelines. Others made stupid jokes. This is while the victim impact statements are going on. She reported it and a further session is planned. 

While all other schools have had to deal with problems and some don't always handle them properly, I don't believe that MSU is typical.  

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47530

BlueKoj

January 26th, 2018 at 5:17 PM ^

The Nassar case is unique in scope. I was speaking more specifically to, "The biggest issue? Complaints involving athletes were routinely investigated and handled by athletic director Hollis' department, and sometimes even coaches, she says." I think this is far more typical and long has been. Collusion with campus and municiple police departments and even prosecutors seems more typical as well. The attitudes you've cited don't seem much different from what I suspect has gone on in Happy Valley, Waco, Louisville and other campuses. 

EDIT: We need to demand better as alums and as a society. Fixing MSU is a known quantity and a priority, but the problem remains elsewhere.

Joined: 01/10/2014

MGoPoints: 7772

Mr Miggle

January 26th, 2018 at 6:28 PM ^

Times have changed and so have the laws. I think it's equally wrong to claim those issues only exist at places that get caught like MSU and Baylor as it is to say that kind of institutional non-complainance is widespread.

It's galling to hear about those attitudes still in place during Nassar's trial. I'd hate to think there's anything typical about that.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47530

BlueKoj

January 26th, 2018 at 10:09 PM ^

Whether it’s sexual assault, DUI, larceny, academic fraud or whatever, it seems naive to think head coaches don’t wield undue influence as do wealthy donors and administrators who want to protect the institution, program, and their own asses before protecting students and athletes. I think it is likely widespread on a smaller scale, and we’ve seen only the most egregious, or the most ridiculous. We will see more of it, I think. I hope victims are being supported and heard more than before. Theres obviously a movement to change the way sexual assault/harassment is reported and handled. This sea change will be revealing and probably ugly, but also for the good.

Joined: 01/10/2014

MGoPoints: 7772

triguy616

January 26th, 2018 at 2:34 PM ^

I felt the same. One or two of these incidents, especially the older ones involving football players where charges weren't filed, it doesn't seem too bad. Par for the course of kids on athletics teams these days, sadly. But there are just so many of these, it's hard not to see the pattern. The university is on fire, and there's a lot of smoke billowing out of the AD...

Joined: 10/02/2010

MGoPoints: 1459

Blue In NC

January 26th, 2018 at 4:05 PM ^

Well obviously I don't know but it does sound like she at least tried to bring about some changes and was finally frustrated enough to quit.  Not sure if that's the trust but she may not have been doing nothing.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 8542

UMxWolverines

January 26th, 2018 at 1:29 PM ^

Their team was a freaking mess last year with how many sexual assault cases there were plus everything else. It will be interesting to hear what all went on and how it was dealt with.

Joined: 03/01/2009

MGoPoints: 65295

Blue_In_Texas

January 26th, 2018 at 1:29 PM ^

"Allswede told Outside the Lines that about seven years ago, an attorney from the university's general counsel's department came to her office to try to reassure her that coaches were taking allegations of sexual violence seriously. Allswede says the attorney told her how Dantonio, the football coach, had dealt with a sexual assault accusation against one of his players: He had the player talk to his mother about what he had done."

 

SPARTANS WILL.....cover up and be complicit in a culture of sexual abuse and rape against women and children.

Joined: 01/09/2016

MGoPoints: 7134

Mr Miggle

January 26th, 2018 at 3:26 PM ^

from his mistakes and that he did everything by the book in the most recent sexual assault cases involving Corley and others

The second part of that appears to be true. The first part was forced upon him after Nassar was charged. MSU did start reforming their AD in response to that and the inevitable investigation into their department.

Joined: 10/07/2010

MGoPoints: 47530

Bluetotheday

January 26th, 2018 at 1:32 PM ^

not only needs to get involved, but they need to ban them until further notice, or permantently. MSU has lost their right to be a part of the BIG. This is beyond sports...

Joined: 02/27/2013

MGoPoints: 9801