Among the hundreds of sexual-abuse victims of the former U.S.A. Gymnastics doctor Lawrence G. Nassar, the ones who have received the most attention have been brand-name Olympians, such as McKayla Maroney, Aly Raisman and Simone Biles, and those who say their abuse dates back to especially young ages — 12, 9, even 6.
But a subset of the more than 256 reported victims whom the Michigan attorney general’s office counted last week were Michigan State athletes at the time they say they were abused. Their stories provide a stark window into how Dr. Nassar was able to capitalize on his status and reputation, the credibility of his university and even the inherent pressure of college sports to exploit adult women even after questions about his conduct had been raised.