Michigan State University’s interim president John Engler is stepping down after he said some victims of the school’s sex abuse scandal were “enjoying” their “moment in the spotlight.”
Engler, who is Michigan’s former governor, was brought in to help the university recover from the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. But MSU’s Board of Trustees was set to meet Thursday to fire him following his comments about some of the women who were sexually abused by Nassar, who was the school’s sports doctor.
Engler came under fire when he told the Detroit News last week that some of the victims were “in the spotlight,” and “enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards and recognition.”
In his 11-page resignation letter, Engler didn’t address those comments. But he did say he will no longer serve as the stand-in president.
“I have served as interim President for one year. It was a position I did not seek but accepted in order to assist the university that I love,” Engler wrote in his resignation letter. “It has been an honor to serve my beloved university.”
Engler added that he believes the board was moving against him because two new Democrats were elected and a third was appointed, creating a new Democrat majority.
