Allswede (Former MSU Sexual Assault Counselor) Fires New Shots at Dantonio

Submitted by wildbackdunesman on

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Lauren Allswede, MSU's former Sexual Assault Counselor, is not happy that Dantonio said ESPN's reporting was false and she fired off new shots back at Dantonio and told him that he must accept his individual responsibility.

Some of her quotes:

"They don't appear to see the women as anything more than a number, or anything other than a threat to their reputation"

"They haven't been to a medical forensic exam, watched people jump when a picture is taken or wince when a swab is taken ... They don't see the shame these survivors feel -- the visceral collapse, the shaking leg, the knotted tissues, and averted eyes"

"Dantonio and Izzo should tell us how they are weak. They should tell us how they are scared, that they've worried no one will ever love them again. That they have difficulty concentrating or carrying on lighthearted conversation. ... And if you think that's unfair, why do you think it is fair for survivors?"

She point blank says that athletes accused of sexual assault got preferential treatment:

"Whatever protocol or policy was in place, whatever frontline staff might normally be involved in response or investigation, it all got kind of swept away, and it was handled more by administration [and] athletic department officials," Allswede, who worked at MSU for seven years, told Outside the Lines. "It was all happening behind closed doors. ... None of it was transparent or included people who would normally be involved in certain decisions."

I don't think Dantonio did himself any favors with his press conference, especially if Allswede is proven correct.  Dantonio has already lied about the whole he has never had to deal with sexual assaults from his players before (unless he is completely incompetent and has no control).

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Magnus

January 27th, 2018 at 9:24 PM ^

You could tell at Izzo's postgame press conference that he had been coached to mention "our survivors" again and again, and he's totally uncomfortable with the situation that has been brewing. I agree that they just see the women as potentially damaging their reputation. I don't think they give a rat's patoot about the women themselves.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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RockinLoud

January 27th, 2018 at 9:27 PM ^

I mean, are we surprised Dantonio responded the way he did, I.E. like an arrogant assclown? Whether there is rampant cover up and preferential treatment for athletes is almost irrelevant to how tone-deaf Dantonio's press conference was.

Joined: 10/12/2008

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Magnus

January 27th, 2018 at 9:31 PM ^

Yeah, protip for Dantonio:

When questioned about serious topics that could impact your legacy and career, saying "I've done nothing wrong" is not a good step. Everyone could have done something differently and better.

Joined: 07/17/2008

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Wolverinefan84

January 27th, 2018 at 9:49 PM ^

I was pretty shocked Dantonio said that considering the ESPN article directly stated that there clearly were previous sexual assaults involving football players. Are we really to believe Dantonio has no knowledge of those cases when the whole premise of the article was that the MSU athletic department was dealing with these cases "internally"? I feel like his statements in that presser could really come back to haunt him.

Joined: 04/05/2011

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ijohnb

January 28th, 2018 at 9:23 AM ^

think it is more likely he will try to walk back the comments he made after the Corley et. al. incident by saying that there had never been sexual assault allegations that had resulted in charges before, and that was the “new territory” he was referring to and not that there had never been allegations. Essentially, that he reported all allegations that he “knew of,” but can’t speak to the ones he didn’t. Whether that is true or not, no clue, but that is likely his best available angle IMO.

Joined: 09/21/2009

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Roy D Hibble

January 28th, 2018 at 9:35 AM ^

But does "We could have done something better" mean he did something wrong???

While proselytizing, skip the part of your brain where you feel superior and you feel able to judge a situation you know very little about that involves people you know nothing about.

Bias is a helluva drug, no?

Joined: 11/08/2010

MGoPoints: -440

Wave83

January 28th, 2018 at 7:19 AM ^

Do you think they were the usual sports reporters who depend on quotes and access to do their job covering the team?  Those sort of reporters practice access journalism and I also think many of them simply do not know how to ask a question.

I would prefer that guys like Dantonio had to face real investigative reporters who are pursuing the sex abuse investigation and have no need to hold back against a football coach.

Joined: 03/09/2011

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MRoseBowl89

January 27th, 2018 at 10:19 PM ^

The byline video said that he issued his statement in front of 'local reporters'.  My take on it is that business as usual has been predicated on controlling the narrative.  

Now, that's going to be harder to do.  Doubling down seems to be prevalent these days as a first response (see Weinstein, Wynn and others) until their position is untenable.  Then, there is the moment when they step down due to the distraction the allegations are causing etc.  (i.e. no admittance of guilt).  

It's going to be hard for MSU to 'protect' Dantonio or Izzo.  Story is hot and too many non-MSU stakeholders are involved.  Fake news days are over in East Lansing.  

Joined: 06/23/2017

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Indy Pete - Go Blue

January 28th, 2018 at 12:09 AM ^

Yes,  He says, "I will only take two questions" as some weird and arbitrary concession to the media.  The first questions jumps off the page, and it was clearly planned.  The 2nd one also, given the tone and the content, completely fits your theory.  I thought the exact same thing.  Also, he has such a condescending and insecure persona, he absolutely cannot win here; even if he is somehow truly innocent.

Joined: 01/23/2018

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Squash34

January 28th, 2018 at 12:56 AM ^

I for sure thought that they wear going to be when he said I have been advised to not take questioned but will take two. Then the first one was a softball, I think about retiring if I remember right. However, the second question was directly about if he knew of the other allegations, which made he contradict his statements from last year about those sexual assult allegations being the first they have had to deal with. So, I walked away thinking they probably were not plants

Joined: 09/13/2016

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Gobluehunter

January 27th, 2018 at 10:05 PM ^

I’m currently in Shanghai and have seen stories on CNN and BBC. Also spoke to some Americans from Iowa here about it. Brings home this isn’t just a thing in Michigan.

An incident is different than a culture that lets this go on for years potentially across multiple sports.

Joined: 10/29/2015

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YouRFree

January 27th, 2018 at 10:33 PM ^

some chinese media have reported this in lengthy news. But don't necessary mentions MSU, only mentioned the law suit is in Michigan. Most Chinese don't evne know where MSU is. They reported as it's a national scandal this is more tied to USA gymnastic team. women's gymnastics is huge in China, USA gymnastics  becomes a laugh stock gobally. Nobody gives a damn about MSU outside this country. And I think this will do more damage to  the sports (Women's gymnastics in US) more than MSU in the long term.

Joined: 10/15/2009

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kyeblue

January 28th, 2018 at 12:45 AM ^

only olympic medals are huge. very few chinese girls are in gymnastics compared to the number in US. US women Gymnastics might be down a bit without the Karolyi's but it still has a huge base and other coaches will step up.

Joined: 09/18/2009

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Go Blue Eyes

January 27th, 2018 at 10:49 PM ^

I was driving around LA yesterday listening to the John and Ken Show - a very popular radio show there - and they did a segment where they played voicemails of listeners.  One of them, rather unfortunately confused Staee and said University of Michigan.  Ken Chiampou, one of the hosts, quickly overspoke the taped comments and made a point to say "Michigan State University" each time.  So it is everywhere.  And because some people aren't smart enough to realize the huge difference there will be some people who think University of Michigan instead of Michigan State University.

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readyourguard

January 27th, 2018 at 9:29 PM ^

The Attorney General will interview 100s of people. If they corroborate Allswede's story about him handling an accusation on his own, he'll probably lose his job.

They already have hard evidence that State lied by omission when they gave two different conclusions the victim and Nassar following the Title IX investigation. Expect a lot of lopped off heads and plea bargains in order to minimize the depth of the AGs investigation.

Joined: 08/21/2008

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xtramelanin

January 27th, 2018 at 9:48 PM ^

thats what i was keying on.  i do think that the AG might do some serious damage to MSU if they do their job right, and i don't mean that in any improper way, just that a thorough investigation could turn up some serious stuff.  my first move would be to get the IT director involved and plum for both emails and texts.   texts are much harder to capture and disappear very quickly with the carriers, but i'm thinking the AG might have the swat to recover them.  we'll see. 

Joined: 12/09/2014

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MGoStretch

January 27th, 2018 at 10:06 PM ^

If the AG (or the special counsel) has that ability to track down texts and emails do you suspect they'll have the will to do so?  This is an honest question. Given the potential mindfield (political, social, etc...) msu will be to navigate, do you suspect their goal is to really (really) get to the bottom of who knew what/when and to find out how many sexual assualt skeletons may be hiding in their closet? Or it is more likey they only wish to be perceived as doing that?

Joined: 03/20/2015

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xtramelanin

January 27th, 2018 at 10:48 PM ^

victims (many?) would qualify.  the gist of it is this:

Civil and Criminal Liability 
Mandated reporters, who fail to file a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, will be subject to both civil and criminal liability. In a civil action, the mandated reporter may be held liable for all damages that any person suffers due to the mandated reporters' failure to file a report. In a criminal action, the mandated reporter may be found guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to 93 days and a fine of $500.

A person making a good faith report is protected from civil and criminal prosecution and cannot be penalized for making the report or cooperating with a CPS investigation.

and those that have to report it include these types:

Mandated Reporters Include:

Physicians

Licensed emergency medical care providers.

Licensed master social workers.

School counselors.

Dentists.

Audiologists.

Licensed bachelor's social workers.

Teachers.

Physician's assistants.

Psychologists.

Registered social service technicians.

Law enforcement officers.

Registered dental hygienists.

Marriage and family therapists.

Social service technicians.

Members of the clergy.

Medical examiners.

Licensed professional counselors.

Persons employed in a professional capacity in any office of the Friend of the Court.

Regulated child care providers.

Nurses.

Social workers.

School administrators.

Employees of an organization or entity that, as a result of federal funding statutes, regulations, or contracts, would be prohibited from reporting in the absence of a state mandate or court order (example: domestic violence provider).

 

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