Trustee: MSU president should quit over sex assault scandal

Michigan-State-president-Lou-Anna-K.-Simon-listens-during-a-MSU-Board-of-Trustees-meeting-Friday-morning,-Dec-15,-2017,-in-East-Lansing,-Mich.-(Dale-G-Young/Detroit-News-via-AP)

Michigan State president Lou Anna K. Simon listens during a MSU Board of Trustees meeting Friday morning, Dec 15, 2017, in East Lansing, Mich. (Dale G Young/Detroit News via AP)

DETROIT — A Michigan State University trustee is calling for the university president to resign over the school’s handling of the sexual assault scandal involving former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.

Trustee Mitch Lyons issued a statement Saturday breaking ranks with fellow board members who said a day earlier they supported President Lou Anna Simon.

Lyons tells the Detroit Free Press that he doesn’t agree and says: "I don’t believe President Simon can survive the public outcry that has been generated by this tragedy." He called for her to quit, "to let the healing process begin."

More than 80 girls and women, including some Olympians, gave statements at the sentencing for Nassar, who worked at Michigan State and as a team doctor for USA Gymnastics. Some assaults took place at his university office.

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