Michigan State is in hot water as many women have alleged that they were sexually assaulted on campus and authorities at the university were aware but did nothing to punish the perpetrators. The scandal was revealed as part of investigations involving Team USA Gymnastics and head trainer Larry Nassar who was recently given a life sentence for his assault of hundreds of athletes.
Magic Johnson, arguably the most famous alumni of Michigan State, is using his platform to speak out against the events that have happened at his alma mater. The Los Angeles Lakers President of Basketball Operations took to Twitter to denounce the actions of the alleged sexual assaulters and to call for changes to be made at the university.
If anyone was aware of the sexual assault happening to women on the MSU campus from the office of the President, Board of Trustees, athletic department, faculty & campus police, and didn’t say or do anything about it, they should be fired.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 29, 2018
Cookie and I stand in support of the victims and their families as they embark on the road to recovery; and I support the movement to hold everyone involved accountable.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 29, 2018
The roles of the new President, Board of Trustees, athletic department, faculty, campus police and students will be to work together to create new policies and procedures to ensure this never happens again.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 29, 2018
As a Spartan, I love MSU and want to work with Coach Izzo, the administration, and the students to be a part of the solution in any way that I can.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 29, 2018
Tom Izzo, the longtime head coach of the Spartans’ men’s basketball team, is among several people accused of standing pat despite knowing of sexual crimes committed by his players, namely Keith Appling and Adreian Payne.
Johnson has been an influential figure at MSU long after moving on from the university to pursue his Hall of Fame NBA career. His words on the matter are sure to put even more pressure on the Michigan State President and Board of Trustees to make full scale changes.
