WASHINGTON (WOOD) — U.S. Sen. Gary Peters was not satisfied with Michigan State University interim president John Engler's answers at a congressional hearing Tuesday.
The hearing before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security focused on what is being done to respond to the Larry Nassar abuse case.
In a satellite interview with 24 Hour News 8's Lynsey Mukomel, Peters said he never thought Engler was the right person to lead the university.
"It was very important after (Lou Anna K. Simon) resigned to bring in some fresh eyes, to bring in fresh perspective. If you just keep doing things the same old way, that's not necessarily going to be done in an appropriate way to make sure there are culture changes," Sen. Peters added.
He was referring to a perceived lack of empathy Engler has shown to survivors.
"Survivors believe that Mr. Engler is not about trying to rebuild trust necessary for the institution and for the survivors to move on," Peters went on to say. "These young women are going to be impacted as a result of these heinous criminal acts for decades to come and the institution of Michigan State bears some responsibility."
The Michigan senator met with some of the women before the hearing to discuss what they wanted answered. About 80 women sat behind Engler while he was questioned by subcommittee members.
"I don't think he answered in a way that was certainly satisfactory to the survivors in the audience," Sen. Peters said. "Folks who talked to me are very concerned about President Engler and, really, his inability to try to develop trust and to try to change the culture in [MSU] to make sure it is more welcoming to folks who want to speak out and want to step out."