Business Case Studies & Business Publications

Bystander Intervention: USA Gymnastics a...

Freeman, R. Edward...

Case

Bystander Intervention: USA Gymnastics and Beyond (B)

Freeman, R. Edward; Mead, Jenny; Liedtka, Jeanne M.; Grushka-Cockayne, Yael; Santos, Grace

E-0483 | Published January 19, 2023 | 4 pages Case

Collection: Darden School of Business

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This partially disguised, public-sourced case, a follow-up to “Bystander Intervention: USA Gymnastics and Beyond (A)” (UVA-E-0482), details what happened after top gymnastics coach Megan Peterson reported team doctor Larry Nassar to USA Gymnastics leadership for his abuse of young athletes. It turned out that many others had tried to report Nassar for various instances of inappropriate behavior and abuse over the years, but coaches, trainers, administrators, and even local and federal law authorities had ignored, dismissed, and generally failed to take action on the accusations. Finally, in 2017, Nassar faced consequences, as did some others in power who had allowed Nassar’s abuses to continue—but hundreds of women and girls had been hurt and then had their hurt ignored in the years before Nassar was finally brought to justice. Why had so many individuals and groups stayed silent and done nothing?