The state House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on Lou Anna Simon to resign or be fired Wednesday.
This comes the same day Doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced in an Ingham County court to up to 175 years in prison. Nassar is a former MSU sports doctor who pleaded guilty to multiple counts of sexual assault.
The MSU president has come under fire in the wake of Nassar’s sentencing. Multiple women said during their impact statements to the court that they complained to school officials about sexual assault by Nassar, but were ignored.
Representative Adam Zemke (D-Ann Arbor) sponsored the resolution.
“I hope it sends a very clear signal that this legislative body will not tolerate this to continue and that we’re done and we have to move forward,” he said.
The resolution says MSU missed many opportunities to end Nassar’s serial abuse and protect students. That includes two decades worth of complaints to MSU employees with no action.
“We are never going to begin the healing process until she is gone,” said Speaker of the House Tom Leonard (R-Dewitt), who voted in favor of the resolution. He said MSU’s reputation has been tarnished.
The resolution passed with 11 no votes. Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (D-Detroit) voted no. She says without due process, this is playing politics.
“We need to have more information, more facts, on what she knew and allow that elected body to carry out that process,” she said.
MSU is currently under review by the NCAA. The state Attorney General also says he plans to investigate the school.