Nassar's ex MSU boss facing neglect, criminal sexual conduct charges
LANSING, Mich. (WJBK) - A Michigan State University official who oversaw former sports doctor Larry Nassar is facing criminal charges amid an investigation into the handling of the sexual abuse complaints.
Officials say William Strampel allegedly touched a student, and stored nude 'selfies' of female students on his work computer. He's been charged with two counts of Willful Neglect of Duty; one count of fourth-degree Criminal Sexual Conduct; and one count of Common Law Offenses.
A press conference is scheduled Tuesday afternoon with Special Prosecutor Bill Forsyth, who was appointed to investigate MSU's handling of the complaints. He'll be providing an update with other authorities. The news conference is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. You can watch live on FOX 2 News now when it begins on our Facebook page here.
Strampel, 70, is the former dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and supervised Nasser for nearly 15 years.
Rachel Denhollander, one of Nasser's many victims, says not only did Strampel fail to protect them, he undermined and belittled them.
"When my video testimony to the Indy Star came out, graphically describing the abuse that Larry perpetrated, disclosing horrific details to the world that no one was ever supposed to know - that I had never told anyone, even my own husband at that point - Dean Strampel forwarded that video testimony the MSU provost and he mocked it. He called it the cherry on the cake of his day," she testified in her victim impact statement earlier this year at Nassar's sentencing hearing.
Strampel seems to have had a history of dismissing sexual assault allegations.
The Wall Street Journal obtained notes from a meeting 12 years ago with four students and three administrators. They discussed a separate incident of sexual assault and Strampel brushed off the female students' accusation and pointed to Nassar as an example of how people often lie about abuse.
Strampel is quoted saying, "I don't think any of these women were actually assaulted by Larry, but Larry didn't learn that lesson and didn't have a chaperone in the room, so now they see an opening and they can take advantage of him."
Nasser's victims knew that wasn't true then. The world knows it now.
MSU said in a statement one of interim president John Engler's first actions when he took office was to fire Strampel and strip him of his tenure. That process should take about a year.
The university says they're sending a message that they'll remove employees who don't treat students faculty and staff in an appropriate manner.
"Michigan State University has been and will continue to cooperate with any on-going investigations. One of the first actions Interim President John Engler did when taking office was to initiate internal processes to remove William Strampel from his position at the university and strip his tenure. In a previous statement, Engler has said that Strampel did not act with the level of professionalism we expect from individuals who hold senior leadership positions, particularly in a position that involves student and patient safety. Allegations have arisen that question whether his personal conduct over a long period of time met MSU's standards. We are sending an unmistakable message that we will remove employees who do not treat students, faculty, staff or anyone else in our community in an appropriate manner."