Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual abuse, posted an official statement via Facebook.

“I am very grateful to have reached a settlement with MSU that reflects the incredible damage which took place on MSU’s campus,” Denhollander said in the statement. “I am thankful that the litigation phase is over so that my sisters and I can move forward.”

Denhollander expressed she remains “deeply disappointed” by MSU not taking the opportunity to enact reform in regards to the university’s handling of sexual assault and misconduct. 

“The litigation phase is over, but the fight for change and accountability, the fight to give survivors a voice and protect the next generation, has only just begun,” she said in the statement. “We intend to stand united with, and for, ALL survivors of abuse as we work together towards these goals.” 

Lindsey Lemke

Lindsey Lemke, one of the first survivors to join the lawsuits against MSU, USA Gymnastics, Twistars USA Gymnastics Club and more, also posted her thoughts via social media in light of the settlement.

“This is the most accomplished I have felt in a long time,” Lemke said via Twitter. “I’ve never devoted myself to something more in my life than to fight for justice from institutions who hold more power than what is imaginable. But we did it. Not the end, but this is victory.”

In an additional tweet, Lemke talked about her journey to fight for justice through telling her personal story.

“I will say I am happy with the fact that MSU settled, as this is a sign of accountability we have been looking for. However we are far from the end,” she said on Twitter. “We still have the lawsuits going on with USAG, USOC and Twistars (John Geddert.) I would hope that Michigan State’s effort to show some accountability will further encourage these other institutions to do the right thing.”

Kaylee Lorincz

Kaylee Lorincz, who, at a public Board of Trustees meeting in April, alleged Interim President Engler had offered her $250,000 during a sit-down meeting without her lawyer present, said the settlement is a step in the right direction but there is still more to do to change the culture at MSU. 

“While it is a positive step in the healing process for myself and the sister survivors, I can’t help but feel disappointed that MSU could not support any real, meaningful change or even muster up a sincere apology to the survivors who attended mediation,” Lorincz said in a statement. “I found it interesting that MSU’s initial proposal to the survivors was the exact $250,000 that Engler had offered in my meeting. After having the audacity to call me 'fake news.' I will never be able to support them.”

Morgan McCaul

Morgan McCaul, survivor and freshman at the University of Michigan, said she was relieved once she heard news of the settlement.

"I was relieved because I think it marks the end of a very long and difficult chapter for a lot of women, and myself included," McCaul said. "I was also very disappointed that it didn't involve any non-monetary demands or conclusions. I think that those would be the most meaningful component of any settlement we would ever reach and, so, it's sad that we weren't able to get those."

McCaul has been active on MSU's campus, such as in the Take Back the Night event and has also called for structured sexual assault policies at MSU. 

She said she would like to see faculty and students take charge in the effort to reform and create better sexual assault programs and policies on MSU's campus.

McCaul said, for her and the other survivors, the fight is not over. 

"We are not done," she said. "We recognize that there's a lot more work to do and I think I speak for myself, but also for a lot of other women, when I say that we are so committed to advocacy on the campus. We want to see that campus made safer than anyone else in the administration because we are the living effects of these negligent policies. Like, we live with this every day and we never want that to happen to anyone else."

McCaul said MSU needs "sweeping changes" in order to provide students with a safer experience on campus.

She said Interim President John Engler has continued to maintain that the university didn't know about the allegations against Nassar until 2016.  

"What I would say the settlements provide is evidence on the contrary. Typically, if nothing went wrong and the university was just as much a victim of Nassar, they would not pay out $0.5 billion," McCaul said. "So, I think this provides a message to the public about what really went on in that SportsMEDICINE clinic and in those back rooms in the Jenison Fieldhouse." 

Brian Mosallam

Brian Mosallam, MSU trustee, said the university accepted an “equitable and just historic settlement” that will allow for healing in a statement via Twitter on Wednesday.

“The settlement won’t count for much if we don’t implement institutional reform. I never want to put this behind us. I want to put this painful experience in our collective memories so we can always say: never again,” he said in the statement. “I hope to work collaboratively with our courageous survivors, my fellow trustees and the administration to enact the necessary institutional changes so MSU and Spartans everywhere can always stand proud.”

Lorenzo Santavicca

Lorenzo Santavicca, previous president of the Associated Students of Michigan State University, or ASMSU, said the settlement is an important step in helping MSU and the survivors move forward in a Facebook post. 

ESPN

ESPN also tweeted on Wednesday about The Arthur Ashe Courage Award being awarded to Nassar survivors.