Michigan State student paper calls for university president to resign
The Michigan State independent student newspaper called on the university president to resign in a powerful editorial and newspaper cover on Thursday, urging President Lou Anna K. Simon to "do the right thing."
The editorial and newspaper cover were published on the third day of victims giving impact statements during the sentencing hearing of former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar.
"Survivors of ex-MSU and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar's sexual abuse cannot move on without change," the State News editorial said. "You 'apologized' to them, you have thrown money at them, but about the only thing you haven't done is listen. Simon, if you're the Spartan you claim to be, you will step down and bow out gracefully. We hope you make the right choice, because time's up."
Simon was widely criticized for not attending the first day of the hearing on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the university told Yahoo's Dan Wetzel that Simon watched the first day of the hearing through live media streaming. She did attend the hearing on Wednesday, though one of Nassar's victims tweeted she was not impressed.
Nassar pleaded guilty in November to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and is facing up to life in prison. He was sentenced to 60 years in federal court on child pornography charges in December.
The Lansing State Journal reported last year that Michigan State allowed Nassar to see patients for 16 months while he was under investigation by its police department.
More than 140 women are part of civil lawsuits alleging that Nassar abused them - including many who say the abuse happened at Michigan State.
Read more about Nassar at USA TODAY Sports.
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