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Report: Department of Education hits Michigan State with largest-ever fine for ‘failures’ in Nassar scandal
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Michigan State University has been slapped with a major fine by the Department of Education for its failure to properly handle the scandal involving disgraced university doctor Larry Nassar.
According to a report from ESPN, Michigan State University has been fined $4.5 million in penalties by the U.S. Department of Education. It is the largest Clery Act fine that has ever been levied against a school.
The fine is a punishment for the failure to act on the scandal involving Nassar. The former team and gymnastics physician was charged and convicted of sexual assault of former student-athletes at Michigan State and members of the United States gymnastics team.
“Michigan State will now pay for its failures and will be required to make meaningful changes to how it handles Title IX cases moving forward,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. “No future student should have to endure what too many did because concerns about Larry Nassar and William Strampel were ignored.”
Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison after he pled guilty to sexually abusing patients in his care. Several women said they complained to university employees about Nassar’s behavior.
ESPN is also reporting that, in addition to the $4.5 million fine, Michigan State University is also “required to hire an independent Clery compliance officer and create a Clery compliance committee.”
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB