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Former MSU athletic rep says lack of compassion in university’s response was “glaring”

Michigan State University sign
Michigan State University
"[The conversations with President Simon] were difficult. She and I were of divergent viewpoints with respect to how the university should respond, and I respect that she had her views and I clearly have mine," Carter said.

   

 

Sue Carter has been on the faculty at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism since 1991.

 

Until yesterday, she also served as the MSU Faculty Athletic Representative.

 

Carter resigned that position just hours after Larry Nassar was sentenced, and just hours before President Simon resigned.

She joined Stateside to give her take on Michigan State University's next steps.

 

Listen above for the full conversation, or check highlights below.

 

On why she felt the need to resign as MSU faculty athletic representative

 

"As some people know, I'm also a priest. I think the aspect of compassion is very important to who I am as an individual and how I like to proceed through life, so as a faculty member and as a priest, I think the compassion that was lacking in our approach and our statements to the women was just glaring and I could no longer abide by it," she said.

 

On why Michigan State's response "lacked compassion"

 

"I'm also a lawyer and I appreciate the need to act defensively when one is a defendant in a number of actions," she said. "I appreciate that, but I think when that becomes the overriding concern and the care for individuals who have been harmed by the act of an individual or an institution are buried, that's very problematic."

 

On what the Board of Trustees needs to do

 

"I think the board of trustees needs to have an open process of listening, and it's when we hear narratives, when we're open to viewpoints that are not our own, that we really do manage to move forward and to get a broader picture, that's when we really make progress. And I think the board should and will ... now use this moment to understand a crisis point has taken place. We've got to do some things differently."

 

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