MSU Vice President Vennie Gore at the Dia De La Mujer Conference on April 16, 2022, at the Kellogg Center.
One of Michigan State University’s top administrators apologized Thursday following a State News Story revealing years-old comments that minimized the abuse of disgraced ex-university doctor Larry Nassar.
"My words caused harm," Senior Vice President for Student Life and Engagement Vennie Gore wrote in an email to campus. "I took responsibility for them then, and I take responsibility for them now."
"In my role, I am frequently involved in emotional and difficult conversations, and it is my responsibility to communicate effectively," wrote Gore, who oversees MSU’s student housing and organizations. "Sometimes I get it right, and sometimes I don’t. That day, I did not get it right."
The comments were made during a 2018 meeting with campus workers. According to a university investigator’s interview notes, Gore said that "a very large majority of the women did not understand that it was a medical procedure," referring to Nassar’s patients, who were repeatedly sexually abused under the guise of medical treatment.
He also defended President Lou Anna Simon, who, at the time, had just resigned over what critics called a mishandling of Nassar that empowered his years of unchecked abuse, according to the notes.
A survivor of Nassar’s abuse who left the meeting "crying and very upset" reported the incident as she felt Gore had attempted to “justify” Nassar’s actions, the notes say.
In his email Thursday, Gore pushed back on the characterization, saying "I do not justify the actions of Nassar, and my heart continues to go out to those affected."
The comments were reported to Gore’s supervisors in 2018, but were only made public last month when the investigator’s notes and related emails were released amid thousands of long-secret MSU documents related to Nassar.
When The State News asked Gore about the meeting for the story last month, he declined to comment, saying "I don’t remember the statement or context of the statement."
Following the story, MSU's undergraduate student government condemned Gore and passed a bill calling for discipline.
"His job is to collaborate and uplift students, and he has failed in his job to foster an inclusive and safe environment," said Chief Diversity Equity & Inclusion Officer Alex Guo.
In his apology message Thursday, Gore said that MSU is in a "different place six years later." He pointed to a number of programs designed to combat sexual violence, and said "I am proud to be a part of the leadership that has brought that change."
Still, Gore said "we need to continue to get better."
"Trust is earned and not given," Gore said. "I know I need to earn your trust through action."
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