State senators will grill Michigan State University President John Engler Thursday during a higher education subcommittee meeting. The testimony is set to begin at 1:45 p.m.
Senators hope to hear answers about how MSU failed in its handling of complaints raised against Larry Nassar, the MSU doctor accused of sexually assaulting dozens of female athletes on campus, and solutions from Engler about how the school is making sure it doesn't happen again.
Some of those questions will focus on which sexual assault cases make it up to the attention of MSU's top leaders and board, said Tonya Schuitmaker, the chairwoman of the committee.
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The committee, which hears once a year from university presidents, has been asking about how universities handle sexual assault cases on their campuses. Members have heard that at some smaller schools, such as Ferris State University, every sexual assault complaint makes it to the president's office for review, Schuitmaker said.
"That's not possible at places like MSU," Schuitmaker said. "I want to ask President (Engler): What is the process to decide what rises to the level of being seen by the president and the board?"
Lawmakers also are working on how they might tie funding to certification from the state's public universities that their sexual assault practices are following federal law and have been reviewed by external forces.
Nassar has been convicted of sexually molesting girls and young female athletes during what he described as medical procedures. Many of those victims have described issuing warning signs to MSU and other organizations.
There are a number of investigation underway on MSU's response, including those by Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette, the U.S. Department of Education and Congress.
The hearing will be broadcast here: https://misenate.viebit.com/.
Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj