Larry Nassar Is Not A Human, But A Predator | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Larry Nassar Is Not A Human, But A Predator

The scandal shook the sporting world.

123
Larry Nassar Is Not A Human, But A Predator
Flickr Creative Commons

The sexual assault cases of former USA Olympic gymnastics physician is one of the most shocking and disgusting cases in the history of any sport. More than 150 women and girls were abused emotionally and sexually. To quote Hadley Freeman of "The Guardian," the “Medals over Morals” ideology is what kept the whole problem hidden for so long. One of the prominent Olympians, Aly Raisman, almost passed out while giving her testimony. Imagine standing there, in front of the person who abused her and her teammates for years and testifying to what he had done. Her statements deliver a strong message to Nassar and other abusers. To quote her, “You do realize that we (who survived the abuse) are a force, and you are nothing." Her words gave me chills.

Larry Nassar was given 175 years in prison based on multiple charges of sexual assault. Throughout the case, 156 women came out and gave testimonies against him for an entire week. The videos of these witness testimonies can be seen all over the internet. They are sad and heartbreaking. Women who had kept quiet for years were finally able to come forward. There were many who complained in 1998--now 20 years ago--but nobody listened until now. One of the many reasons why it was suppressed was due to fear of a tarnished image and reputation, which could potentially lead to less sponsorship for the team.

Fault Of Michigan State University And Gymnastic Authorities

The president of Michigan State University recently stepped down due to political pressure, as some of the blame is being placed on the institution where Nassar treated gymnasts. Other gymnastics authorities and university administrative workers have also stepped down.

One report states that there is a certain trend that follows at the university, specifically regarding sporting authorities, even beyond the Larry Nassar case. MSU has had three such court cases filed against them where they fought hard in court to prevent the names from appearing on the police case. A similar incident has also been cited within the university’s football team too, which indicates a fundamental problem with the sports administration.

One of the athletic trainers who worked alongside Larry Nassar, Debbie Van Horn, was also a perpetrator in the whole crime. She turned a blind eye to the whole scandal for many years and there were many occasions where she was physically present when the crimes were being committed. What shocks me to my core is how a female can watch other girls being abused in front of her. How could Nassar do this? He's a human like the rest of us, after all. My argument would be, 'he is anything but a human.'

The whole incident makes me think how immoral people can be. The only good thing about the whole case was that Nassar was sentenced to life imprisonment by a female judge. That and her flawless reaction to Nassar's letter, which stated that it was hard for him to listen to the testimonies of the victims and survivors. Case closed, Larry.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

446148
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

19669
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

43242
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

22350
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments