Letter to admitted students, March 7, 2018
Dear student:
As you consider where to attend college in the fall, I’m asking for a moment of your time to personally thank you for your interest in Michigan State University, and to address concerns you might have.
Michigan State is many things, including all the great things you’ve learned about our academic programs and campus living. But you no doubt also know MSU is the subject of investigations stemming from long-term sexual misconduct by a former faculty physician with ties to Olympic, MSU, and other gymnastics programs. He will spend the rest of his life in prison and, as we grieve for his survivors, we are moving swiftly and decisively to make changes aiming to prevent such a thing from ever happening again.
Those include:
- A number of changes in top leadership of both the College of Osteopathic Medicine and of Michigan State University itself;
- Realignment of our medical and nursing colleges, and of student and community health services, to ensure better safety, quality, accountability, and efficiency;
- A new Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup to help correct problems and improve university policies and programs;
- And increased staffing for sexual assault response programs and student mental health services.
We recognize the growing national awareness that for too long, women have been subjected to unwanted advances and sexual assaults, even in settings where they should feel secure. Steps to foster a safer, more caring, civil, and respectful MSU community are in motion. We are committed to improving prevention of, and response to, sexual assault, and to better ensuring the MSU community’s overall health and safety.
It is important to know that our educational mission has not been diminished, but, in fact, has been strengthened by our Spartan will to overcome our challenges. I hope you will join us on our journey at MSU as we strive to demonstrate how our commitment to the highest ideals of education can serve as a positive force in our country and the world.
Sincerely,
John Engler
Interim President