© 2025 Michigan State University Board of Trustees
Public Media from Michigan State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

MSU Creates Permanent Fund For Nassar Survivors

angry woman
Alec Gerstenberger
/
WKAR-MSU
Valerie von Frank with the group Parents of Sister Survivors Engaged (POSSE) addresses the Michigan State University Board of Trustees Friday.

Michigan State University says it has established a permanent fund to provide counseling and mental health services for survivors of sexual assault. 

 

MSU created the Healing Assistance Fund in 2017 to reimburse survivors of Larry Nassar for out-of-pocket treatment services.  Nassar is the former MSU sports doctor now imprisoned for hundreds of sexual assaults.  Six months later, MSU suspended the fund in the wake of evidence of fraudulent claims. 

 

Now, Board of Trustees chair Dianne Byrum says a contractor will run the new permanent fund.

 

“This is their business,” says Byrum.  “So all of those security issues survivors had concerns about will be handled with this new third-party administrator.”

 

Byrum says counseling and mental health services fund will be available starting in September. 

 

 

Kevin Lavery served as a general assignment reporter and occasional local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered before retiring in 2023.
Related Content
Local journalism matters—and it’s at risk.


WKAR brings you trusted news, without barriers—no paywalls, no corporate spin. But now, federal funding that helps make it all possible is on the chopping block. Your support is more important than ever. Stand up for independent journalism in mid-Michigan—make your gift today.