Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon has resigned.
In a letter sent to the MSU Board of Trustees Wednesday night, Simon described her commitment to putting MSU first.
She also cited the Larry Nassar sentencing as reason for her resignation, saying, "As Nassar’s legal journey to prison was drawing to a close, more and more negative attention was focused on Michigan State University, and on me."
More than 150 women and girls gave victim impact statements during Nassar's sentencing this past week, many of them placing blame and criticism on MSU, which had received reports of Nassar's abuse as early as 1997.
Addressing the survivors, Simon said, "I can never say enough that I am so sorry that a trusted, renowned physician was really such an evil, evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment."
The pressure faced by Simon and MSU in the Nassar scandal was greatly compounded this week, as the NCAA announced Wednesday morning that it would investigate the university's handling of the complaints against Nassar.
The state House also adopted a resolution Wednesday afternoon calling for Simon to step down.
Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich (D—Flint) was pleased by the announcement.
“This is a necessary step to take in order for the university to begin seriously addressing a broken system that allowed more than 160 young women to be sexually assaulted by a university employee," Ananich said, "Survivors deserve to be heard. Survivors also deserve assurance that the people in charge of their education and safety—all the way to the very top—will be held accountable.”
