OT - Nassar

[Hawkinole]

ELA, and Medina, You each make good points.
Very wise on MSU's part to have a $75M fund for victims who have not stepped forward. I can't speak for women, but I would think I would not want my very private business published as this was for those who attended the sentencing hearings, and it would make sense that others stood back. Stepping forward, if you are interested in compensation might have appeared the wise thing to do. But this settlement probably does not penalize those who desire privacy.
Sometimes in settlements like this (for instance the 9/11/2001 fund) a special master is appointed to determine a fair settlement for each person. It is a difficult task, but I think the special master cannot let that weigh him down, because the process can be streamlined compared to a trial.

[Brutus Buckeye]

Next up, Cal Berkeley 



https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2018/05/17/claims-of-sexual-abuse-from-former-cal-student-athletes-substantiated/

After a months-long investigation sparked by a star basketball player’s allegations of sexual assault, UC-Berkeley has fired a longtime official in its athletic department for conduct involving at least seven women athletes, bringing the university’s long struggles with sexual harassment into the #metoo era.
Mohamed Muqtar, 61, who served as assistant director of student services, was let go May 11, a story first reported by ESPN. It is not clear when the university was first informed of claims against him; ESPN reported that a former Cal instructor said she had twice in the past raised concerns with the athletic department after hearing from female athletes but was told nothing could be done unless the athletes themselves came forward.

[ELA]

Former gymnastics coach Kathy Klages, who told her team to not only lie, but show vocal support for Nassar, has been charged with 2 counts of lying to an officer, one a felony, one a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 years in jail.

[Entropy]

I have no use for that woman.

you said it in a much more compassionate way than I would have stated it...

[Anonymous Coward]

Former gymnastics coach Kathy Klages, who told her team to not only lie, but show vocal support for Nassar, has been charged with 2 counts of lying to an officer, one a felony, one a misdemeanor, punishable by up to 6 years in jail.

Six years doesn't sound like much justice for the victims but it's a start.

[Anonymous Coward]

Also: I wasn't aware of this thread. Sorry for spoiling the MSU preseason thread with Nassar/Engler/BoT disappointments.

[FearlessF]

Six years doesn't sound like much justice for the victims but it's a start.

probably a year of probation

[ELA]

Sigh. It's a small story but reminds us how openness and healing were never even on Engler's or the BoT's radar of interests.

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/08/15/msu-alumni-mag-focuses-positives/987621002/

State News (MSU student paper) obtained and published a today a copy of the version that Engler killed.  Good on a bunch of 20 year olds being real journalists.  Too bad that they most likely won't get jobs in the industry, and if they do, they will be discouraged from doing things like this in favor MOAR HOT TAKES!

[ELA]

FWIW, the NCAA completed its probe today for both (i) Nassar; and (ii) the ESPN article involving handling of allegations against football and basketball players, and found no NCAA violations in either case.  Not that I really expected much differently after they indirectly admitted they shouldn't have gone down that road with Penn State.

[Anonymous Coward]

Aside from Title IX malfeasance: Just as with PSU and football, I'd argue that violations for gymnastics competitive advantage would have been legitimate (hiding an environment dangerous to the students they protect because being open would be bad for the AD and relevant sports). But that was always impossible on precedent because the NCAA didn't go after PSU for competitive advantage but for coach hero worship ... which isn't within a mile of the rule book and inevitably had to be repealed.

[ELA]

I think there was a definite competitive advantage to what Klages did, there was no other explanation for it.  I have to imagine having the USA Gymnastics doctor working with the team like that was certainly a selling point to recruits, not that MSU gymnastics was any good under her.  But it's not like they had a long standing relationship, where they were friends and willing to suspend belief.

[rolltidefan]

Aside from Title IX malfeasance: Just as with PSU and football, I'd argue that violations for gymnastics competitive advantage would have been legitimate (hiding an environment dangerous to the students they protect because being open would be bad for the AD and relevant sports). But that was always impossible on precedent because the NCAA didn't go after PSU for competitive advantage but for coach hero worship ... which isn't within a mile of the rule book and inevitably had to be repealed.

i agree with this.

[ELA]

Also worth noting that of the three investigations (NCAA, AG, Title IX), this was always the most likely to go nowhere.

[Anonymous Coward]

Absolutely. Though Engler has done plenty to obstruct the AG as well.