Michigan State University ousted its interim president after he made insulting comments about the hundreds of women and girls who were sexually assaulted by the now-imprisoned campus sports doctor who worked with the US Olympic Gymnastics team.

Dr. Larry Nassar will likely die in prison, sentenced to 40 to 125 years in prison for three counts of sexual assault, plus a 60-year sentence in federal prison on child pornography charges.  But the convictions merely scratched the surface of Nassar's crimes at the public institution in America's Upper Midwest.  Michigan State agreed to a US$500 Million settlement with 332 women and girls who said they were sexually assaulted by Nassar.  Of that, $75 Million will be set aside to cover future claims.

John Engler, a former Republican governor of the state of Michigan, was brought in to straighten out the university in crisis.  But his critics say he made the situation worse, and had antagonized the network of "sister survivors" repeatedly.  In one case, he suggested that one of Nassar's victims was getting a "kick back" from her attorney to sue the school.  The last straw came last week with Engler's comments to The Detroit News claiming that Nassar's victims had been in the "spotlight" and are "still enjoying that moment at times, you know, the awards and recognition". 

The university board informed Engler that a new interim president would be hired in Thursday's meeting, and that he would have to make a decision about resigning before that.

Replacing Engler is Satish Udpa, a former dean of the university's engineering school and administrator.  "We can't continue to operate the way we have been for the past two years," Mr. Udpa said, adding that he supports a campus culture where "everyone respects everybody else".