MSU begins transfer of Nassar docs to Attorney General's office

Michigan State University has started transferring the long-withheld documents linked to the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal to Attorney General Dana Nessel's office, and incorporating a trauma-informed process to support survivors and others impacted.

But the process has stirred controversy.

A batch of 2,000 documents was being transferred to Nessel's office on Friday. The process of transferring of all 9,000 documents will take about a month, MSU spokeswoman Emily Guerrant said.

The announcement blindsided Nassar abuse survivor Melissa Hudecz of Rockford. She said MSU asked survivors if they wanted to be informed of the process, and survivors said yes. But they were not made aware that Friday's transfer was going to happen, Hudecz said.

Additionally, Hudecz said the survivors asked for a timeline of events and to be involved in the process, but they were ignored.

"I expected that I would be informed before finding out in the news," said Hudecz, 39. "I'm disappointed they have not given us any updates. They completely left us out of it after saying, 'Do you want to be apprised this is coming out?' That is not them being transparent and working with us."

It's also not "trauma-informed," said Valerie von Frank, of POSSE, the MSU parent group that advocates for survivors of sexual violence.

"The survivors and POSSE, the parent group, who have actively worked to bring about the release of these documents, have not been asked, informed, or had questions answered about this process," von Frank said. "It’s indicative once again of MSU’s lack of commitment to reform and to care for the survivors of one of the most heinous cases of abuse perpetrated on children, youth and women in U.S. history. MSU hasn’t learned a single lesson — the administration continues to treat survivors with the same lack of understanding and callousness it did in 2018, despite the window dressing and lip service it gives to being 'trauma-informed.'"

Guerrant responded late Friday to the criticisms of the document transfer.

"The board first indicated a desire for a trauma-informed plan at the December board meeting," Guerrant said via email. "The university also wrote a letter to survivors outlining some of the new supports and abilities to engage along the process."

She attached a copy of the letter, adding that MSU does not have an "email list" of survivors so communications like this are relayed through third parties, such as advocates or lawyers.

The letter, dated Feb. 29, introduced the authors, Carrie Moylan and Stephanie Anthony, MSU advisers to the president and Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup co-chairs.

They said they were providing information and updates regarding the MSU board's decision to release the university’s privileged documents related to Nassar to the attorney general.

"We anticipate that the sharing of these documents will commence this week and conclude by the end of March," the letter says. "We acknowledge that this decision may be viewed differently by various individuals. For some, it might represent an opportunity for further understanding and healing, while for others, it may resurface past pain. Whether you need someone to talk to, additional information or assistance, we are committed to being a resource during this time. Your well-being is our priority, and we understand that everyone processes such news differently."

The letter continued with offering resources.

"We are committed to being trauma-informed, and some ways we are doing that include ensuring that the handling of these documents prioritizes individual confidentiality and privacy," the letter says. "Your personal information will be treated with the utmost care and respect. We also have established additional support resources. Our counseling services and support networks are available to assist you throughout this process. We also have a list of state and national resources that may be able to assist you if that is a preferred option for you. Please reach out if you need someone to talk to."

The university is reviewing the documents and making redactions in line with federal laws governing privacy, such as FERPA and HIPAA, before sending them to the AG's office, Guerrant said.

It's not clear if or when the documents might become public, or if any criminal charges will materialize from the records being released to the Attorney General's Office.

In December, the MSU Board of Trustees approved the release of the documents, following years of lobbying by Nassar's survivors. Critics viewed the university's refusal to release them as a symbol of MSU's lack of transparency following the Nassar scandal.

The former sports doctor, who assaulted young women for decades under the guise of treatment as an MSU doctor, was sentenced in 2018 to 40-175 years in prison for multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct.

The board voted to release them weeks after it appointed Kevin Guskiewicz as its 22nd president. He begins his post Monday.

At the time, MSU board Chair Rema Vassar called the vote "historic" and apologized to survivors "for all the hurt and pain that survivors have experienced and continue to experience."

"Today, we take a bold step toward a bright, green future of truth," Vassar said.

MSU has also established a process and a team to provide support to the survivor community and others who are impacted by the transfer of documents, university officials said.

MSU's specialized team will facilitate support through campus partners such as the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Expert Advisory Workgroup, Center for Survivors, MSU’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance and others.

Survivors and others can reach out to the team through an email address, DocumentRelease@msu.edu, to get more information about what is happening with the documents, connect with resources and support and make suggestions regarding the documents' release.

Updates related to the release of the documents also will be available on MSU's webpage, Our Commitment.

kkozlowski@detroitnews.com