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Sister Army named as part of Glamour's 2018 'Women of the Year' honorees

November 2, 2018
Rachael Denhollander waits to give her statement on the seventh and final day of Ex-MSU and USA Gymnastics Dr. Larry Nassar's sentencing on Jan. 24, 2018 at the Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing. (Nic Antaya | The State News)
Rachael Denhollander waits to give her statement on the seventh and final day of Ex-MSU and USA Gymnastics Dr. Larry Nassar's sentencing on Jan. 24, 2018 at the Ingham County Circuit Court in Lansing. (Nic Antaya | The State News) —

Glamour Magazine this week published “In Their Own Words: The Army of Women Who Took Down Larry Nassar,” an article featuring interviews with numerous survivors of ex-MSU and USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar’s crimes.

They, as part of the “Sister Army” who spoke out against Nassar, were named as part of Glamour’s “Women of the Year” honorees.

In the article, survivors opened up about their stories and how standing united — as a Sister Army — plays a role in their healing processes following Nassar’s criminal trials. It featured interviews with women who range from U.S. Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman all the way to Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar of sexual abuse.

Survivors spoke of being able to read their impact statements in court and how that opportunity to be heard influenced their personal healing processes. 

“The most healing thing for me has come from being able to use my experience to advocate for others who are victims of sexual abuse and to help change the laws in Michigan regarding survivors of abuse,” survivor Larissa Boyce said in the article.

Angela Povilaitis — Michigan’s assistant attorney general at the time of the case — said women’s voices were finally heard through those impact statements. 

In the article, the Sister Army speaks of how they plan to advocate for other sexual abuse survivors by speaking up, uniting and using their strength.

“The Sister Army has pushed for legislation including some 40 bills in Michigan and a new federal law that expands the statute of limitations to report sexual abuse to 10 years from when a survivor identifies it (formerly, the clock started when the abuse occurred), and requires athletic organizations to develop clear procedures to prevent, report, and respond to sexual assault,” according to Glamour.

Ingham County District Judge Rosemarie Aquilina — who presided over Nassar’s trial in Ingham County — told Glamour the women have grown to become a force. 

“I don’t think anybody could have anticipated all of this, but it’s really a tribute to the courage of these brave girls, to their sharing the horrific things that happened to them with the world, to their saying: ‘No more, we’re speaking out. We’ve grown up. We matter. We’re a force.'”

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