John Engler, Interim Michigan State University President, is not caving to calls from board trustees and legislators for him to resign after two trustees said Friday that Engler was unfit to lead the university because of accusations against former campus sports doctor Larry Nassar that he sexually assaulting hundreds of women and girls when he worked there.
Engler insisted he's looking ahead to a public Board of Trustees meeting, scheduled for next Friday, The Associated Press reported.
Engler underscored his role in the university's $500 million settlement to hundreds of women and girls who said they were sexually assaulted by a now-imprisoned former campus sports doctor, Larry Nassar.
On Friday, trustee Brian Mosallam said the Nassar-related campus crisis won't settle until Engler steps down. Hours later, he was joined by fellow trustee Dianne Byrum.
Joining outraged Nassar survivors, Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof also said Engler, a former Republican governor, should resign. Republican House Speaker Tom Leonard declined to comment.
Amber McCann, a spokeswoman for state Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, said Friday that the senator "is very disappointed and does agree that Engler should resign."
On Wednesday, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Engler has suggested the first woman to go public with her accusations was probably getting a "kickback" from her attorney. His claims have been widely panned by Nassar survivors.
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