Judge Rosemarie Aquilina is now on my list of contemporary sheroes. She opened her courtroom for any victim of Larry Nassar to speak. To tell their story. To be heard. Believed. Honored and encouraged by a Judge. The New York times has printed their stories. Please take care of yourself if you choose to read them. A horrific monster has been found guilty and sentenced to 40-175 years in prison. He will not walk free again. For once the molester is guilty, will serve time, and had to hear (not necessarily listen) to testimony of what he did. I want to stand up and cheer. Cheer and celebrate the courageous young women and girls who survived the abuse. Cheer and celebrate the young women and women who testified. Cheer and celebrate the families who support and believe them. Finally. At least one monster in jail. Finally.
My eyes well with tears, my heart smiles. The little girl inside of me feels heard. No, this is nothing like my story. But, they were heard. They were believed. He was punished. That is good.
But, it is not enough. The NCAA and the USOC who allowed this to happen and Michigan State University who employed him must be held accountable. Again. Where else is this happening? Where else is this happening? Certainly not just Penn State and Michigan State. Would it be hard for a University President to lose her job. Of course. Is this the only thing for which her impact should be remembered. No. But, it happened. Her university supported it by supporting him. Her university sent its own athletes to him. She is the one who is responsible. If she isn't willing to live it, then don't be a University President (or CEO, or Exec Dir, etc....) I hope that she and her board step up to the plate and do the right thing. If not, they risk all that they want to achieve that is good.
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