Education Dept. Levies $4.5-Million Fine Against Michigan State Over Nassar Scandal – The Chronicle of Higher Education
The Department of Education has levied a $4.5-million fine against Michigan State University — the largest such penalty ever — for failing to comply with campus-safety regulations in its handling of the Larry Nassar scandal. Nassar, a former team doctor who was accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of women and girls during his decades at the institution, is serving a long prison term after pleading guilty to some of those charges.
Shortly after that announcement, the university’s president, Samuel L. Stanley Jr., released a statement saying the institution’s provost, June P. Youatt, has resigned. The Education Department had criticized her for failing to take action against William Strampel, a former dean and Nassar’s longtime boss.
Three former university officials — Lou Anna K. Simon, the former president; Kathie Klages, a former gymnastics coach, and Strampel — have been criminally charged for their roles in the scandal.
“What happened at Michigan State was abhorrent,” Betsy DeVos, education secretary, said in a press call on Thursday. The crimes committed by Nassar and Strampel, she said, were “disgusting and unimaginable” and “so too was the university’s response” to the crimes. “This must not happen again.”