Whistleblower Spoke to NCAA President Mark Emmert About Michigan State Allegations in 2010
By the C|C Whistleblower Lawyer Team
In light of last week’s sentencing of former Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, more allegations related to Michigan State athletics have been brought to light. Nassar was sentenced in state court to up to 175 years in prison for his sexual abuse of USA Gymnastics female athletes, which is added to his already existing 60 year conviction on federal child pornography charges. Following Nassar’s sentencing, ESPN’s Outside the Lines reported on allegations of mishandling of sexual assault claims within the Michigan State athletics department. The report alleged a pattern of denial, cover-up, and inaction related to sexual assault allegations against faculty or student athletes.
A new report claims that a whistleblower alerted NCAA President Mark Emmert of thirty-seven reports of alleged sexual assault related to Michigan State athletics back in 2010. According to the report, Mr. Emmert, then six months into his job as NCAA President, met with Kathy Redmond of the National Coalition Against Violent Athletes. Ms. Redmond allegedly raised concerns to Mr. Emmert about allegations of Michigan State University athletes sexually assaulting women and also raised concerns about now former Michigan State president Lou Anna Simon about the handling of sexual assault allegations.
Ms. Redmond claimed that the school did not properly handle a police report filed by a woman alleging that two Michigan State basketball players sexually assaulted her. Mr. Emmert responded to Ms. Redmond’s concerns in a follow-up letter detailing several examples of NCAA efforts to address sexual assault on campuses. Lou Anna Simon resigned as Michigan State University president last Wednesday following the sentencing of Nassar. The NCAA has pledged to open an investigation into the handling of Nassar’s case.