_Annie Jennemann is a freshman journalism and English major at MU. She is an opinions columnist who writes about politics for The Maneater._
After beginning to investigate USA Gymnastics in March 2016, The Indianapolis Star brought attention to the former team doctor and doctor for Michigan State University, Larry Nassar, whose name I can barely stand to even read. Nassar faced allegations that he molested young gymnasts and more, claiming that it was a “special treatment.” When The Indianapolis Star reported the allegations, Nassar accepted a plea deal on seven counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. The counts came from over 160 women and span across two decades. Out of all of the concerns I have about this case, one of my biggests worries is how a man in such a powerful position was able to get away with these acts for so long. Something is obviously wrong with the way our society handles sexual assault.
A total of 156 women testified against Nassar in court. This number includes young girls, who had no idea what was happening. It hurts me, not only because of the suffering the victims have endured, but to think about how a man of authority was given the right to commit such acts for so long.
Among the women are many notable names, including Olympic gold medalists Aly Raisman and Jordyn Wieber.
Among these 156 women is also Rachael Denhollander. Denhollander was the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual assault and the last to give her testimony in court. She spoke of controversies involving Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics covering up allegations from girls accusing Nassar of sexual assault. She also spoke about what this case means; young girls’ cries for help were ignored, and this is the consequence.
“Look around the courtroom; remember what you have witnessed these past seven days,” Denhollander said. “This is what it looks like when someone chooses to put their selfish desires above the safety and love for those around them and let it be a warning to us all and moving forward as a society. This is what it looks like when the adults in authority do not respond properly to disclosures of sexual assault.”
Denhollander spoke perfectly about the case, properly giving blame to the figures in authority who either denied the allegations or ignored them. She continued to describe how our current culture allows predators such as Nassar to carry out the actions that he did.
“This is what it looks like when institutions create a culture where a predator can flourish unafraid and unabated and this is what it looks like when people in authority refuse to listen, put friendships in front of the truth, fail to create or enforce proper policy and fail to hold enablers accountable,” she said.
I hope to see an investigation into all of the figures in authority who are a part of Michigan State University and USA Gymnastics. Every person who failed to speak out when brought to the attention of the issue is a part of the problem. Sexual assault is already an epidemic, but allowing a monster to continuously assault young girls is an act of pure evil that could have been brought to an end the first time it was reported.