LANSING, Mich. – The checkerboard at Michigan State University just saw a dramatic play with two trustees possibly on their way out. The MSU board shot a recommendation to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer last night to consider axing Trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno over allegations of ethical breaches, according to reports. Meanwhile, another member, Trustee Brianna Scott, got slapped with a censure but dodged suspension, stoking much talk around MSU's governance and the board's credibility.
Under intense scrutiny, the board convened remotely to face the music head on, deciding to swiftly accept Vassar's resignation as chair and to prop Vice Chair Dan Kelly up as the new chairperson. These twists unfolded as a DC-based watchdog, Miller & Chevalier, laid out a 66-page gripe list detailing how Vassar and Denno were caught playing fast and loose with their trustee roles, Hoodline reported. Their report has now put the ball in Whitmer's court, to possibly give the two trustees the boot, a tough call for the governor.
It seems like the two trustees attempted to to really mark their territory at MSU, with Denno even clashing swords over academic affairs. Both trustees were accused of overstepping the powers of their positions, as per the investigation findings. Vassar, stirring some empathy, called the censuring actions "punitive" and "over the top," expressing pride in her service and hinting at higher standards being set for people of color, The Detroit News documented.
Despite playing a quiet hand during the meeting, Denno made clear in a statement, obtained by The Detroit News, that he viewed the board culture as hostile to questioning and accountability, stating, "I quickly realized that trustees were expected to go-along-to-get-along." This paints a stark contrast with the neat and tidy image most boards aim to uphold when they sign up to manage the mandarins of academia. His defense: trying to ensure MSU's and Michigan's betterment by poking and prodding where necessary.
Caught in the crossfire, Scott bit the bullet and accepted the censure for spilling the beans with confidential info. Her willingness to take one for the team came with a hope expressed to WOODTV that her fellow trustees would follow suit and not force Whitmer to pull out the public money to show them the door. Moving forward, the MSU board is clamped down hard now on ethics and governance, pledging a commitment as firm as a handshake from Trustee Dan Kelly, according to Hoodline.
