After a tumultuous summer for Michigan State University's leadership — a period which included the introduction of a revised code of conduct for the Board of Trustees that stresses the duty of "loyalty" to the university, and then the president's resignation and subsequent return six weeks later — the university's first board meeting since that period suggested that those issues are still top of mind for certain trustees, students, alumni and community members.
MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz kicked off the meeting, which was held both in person in East Lansing and over Zoom on Sept. 11, by acknowledging the board’s approval of the revised code of conduct, which limits what trustees can say and establishes penalties such as losing privileges ranging
from complimentary football tickets and discretionary travel budgets, and censure for violations.
"While no single action solves every challenge, establishing clear expectations and standards is a meaningful step in the right direction," he said, adding that codes of conduct are common practices for organizations.
When each trustee was given the opportunity to speak later in the meeting, the two trustees who refused to sign the code, held a news conference calling it unconstitutional and were later censured, criticized the policy. Trustee Rema Vassar called it "problematic in that it does quell First Amendment rights" and "anti-American." Trustee Mike Balow said, "In a country that values free speech ...few things are more precious to the average American than to be able to speak out on things they believe in without fear of retribution." He added that the code of conduct "probably needs change if we're going to be true to our ideals."
Their comments come as Guskiewicz is facing an unprecedented leadership test, as he works to regain the trust of the MSU community after resigning, publicly accepting another job and then reversing course. In his address to the Spartan community announcing he was staying at MSU in July, he said he had "productive conversations about the governance challenges I previously shared" with board leaders.
The majority of the public comments were about these governance challenges.
A speaker over Zoom who identified himself as Daniel Gertzberg, a 2008 alumnus of MSU, said the university's leadership challenges are a frequent topic of conversation among fellow alumni.
"It's become a very public circus, and it's very visible to everyone," he said. "My ask, and I think this is an ask from all the alumni who couldn't be here today, are just kind of thinking through [the question]: 'Are my actions advancing the journey of Michigan State?' "
Other speakers spoke in support of Vassar. A speaker on Zoom who identified herself as Miselo Chola, a 2025 MSU alumnus, said: "Free speech is not a courtesy you extend selectively; it is a right, or it is nothing. This is a double standard, and every single person here knows it, whether you like it or not."
The next scheduled MSU Board of Trustees meeting is on Oct. 30.
Contact Adrienne Roberts: amroberts@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU’s leadership turmoil isn’t over. Trustees are still fighting
