Report’s out. Recommends Trustees Vassar & Denno be dismissed. Scott censured.

Say Buh Bye

Reading the report it appears it states there are grounds to remove both Vassar and Denno and censure Scott.


https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/campus/2024/02/28/msu-vassar-denno-scott-misconduct-investigation/72777367007/

Here’s the report.  Not light reading.

MSU Independent Investigation Report

GRR Spartan wrote:Say Buh Bye

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/campus/2024/02/28/msu-vassar-denno-scott-misconduct-investigation/72777367007/

Right on. I wondered what that email was that we got today. Seemed weird.

Get rid of those fuck wads. Do it publicly. Show video of them walking out of their office with their shit. GTFO.

Now, can they run again?

Lawsuits coming in 3,2,1.

Denno and Vassar were gunning to run off interim president Woodruff.

Vassar thought being elected chair meant rules for others didn't apply to her.

Governor Whitmer is term limited out. Vassar's term ends 1 Jan '29 and Denno's ends 1 Jan 31. She can censure Trustee Scott. That keeps her on the board. That seat is on the 2026 ballot. Keeps one MSU grad / minority / female demo on the BOT

MSU Trustee appointments are valuable political chits Governor Whitmer can use to appoint two new trustees who know they won't have to bother with 2 election cycles.

Whittmer's office probably knew the report's suggestions recommending severe actions for Vassar and Denno were possible.

Make a decision. Let Rema Vassar talk and talk and talk and threaten to file a law suit. That will prove she's never given a rat's ass about MSU. Its all about Rema.

Vassar and Denno should resign, but probably won’t. Whitmer needs to wield her axe immediately.

tGreenWay wrote:Vassar and Denno should resign, but probably won’t. Whitmer needs to wield her axe immediately.

People that run for these positions are largely looking to gain power and influence. They don’t give two shits about MSU. Which appears to be the case here and was the case with Ferguson forever. They won’t be resigning because of this.

I don’t know the answer on how to appoint people to these positions. But a public election is asinine. They are names on a piece of paper. Equally as bad is voting for an individual simply because they have an R or D in front their name. That doesn’t make them a good person. Hell, I probably voted for at least one of these turds.

Maybe they should be appointed by the sitting governor and/or legislature. Two every two years. We hire these people to make these types of decisions. That is not going to solve all the problems, but the current proces blows.

Nordic wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Vassar and Denno should resign, but probably won’t. Whitmer needs to wield her axe immediately.

People that run for these positions are largely looking to gain power and influence. They don’t give two shits about MSU. Which appears to be the case here and was the case with Ferguson forever. They won’t be resigning because of this.

I don’t know the answer on how to appoint people to these positions. But a public election is asinine. They are names on a piece of paper. Equally as bad is voting for an individual simply because they have an R or D in front their name. That doesn’t make them a good person. Hell, I probably voted for at least one of these turds.

Maybe they should be appointed by the sitting governor and/or legislature. Two every two years. We hire these people to make these types of decisions. That is not going to solve all the problems, but the current proces blows.

Not to mention a term is 8 years long. That’s absurd.

There should also be a zero tolerance rule.  Do not allow one of these board members to take one penny from any donor or any donors company or any company that a donors  company does business with.  

No plane trips, no lunches, no tickets to any games, not one penny.  Further, they can’t meet with one head of a department, with one professor, with one professional group , with one coach, with one administrator, with one student group, unless they do so in a quorum of board members.

Zero tolerance. If it’s found that any of these people have taken one penny, or one gratuitous benefit they are immediately removed from the board.  If they truly love Michigan State, they won’t have any problems with that.

DWags wrote:There should also be a zero tolerance rule.  Do not allow one of these board members to take one penny from any donor or any donors company or any company that a donors  company does business with.  

No plane trips, no lunches, no tickets to any games, not one penny.  Further, they can’t meet with one head of a department, with one professor, with one professional group , with one coach, with one administrator, with one student group, unless they do so in a quorum of board members.

Zero tolerance. If it’s found that any of these people have taken one penny, or one gratuitous benefit they are immediately removed from the board.  If they truly love Michigan State, they won’t have any problems with that.

I think I said this before...The BoT is a poorly run HOA. You don't need any real qualifications to make big decisions. People want to take credit for stuff, and act like big shots.

Trapper Gus wrote:I don't know about all "gifts" but the report pretty much says there is a zero tolerance rule for some of the things they have done.

It is likely however that the Govenor will need to act to remove these people from the board, as they can't even be bothered to attend training sessions to learn what they are allowed to do as board members.

IMO the board member who refused to turn over his phone to the investigation also should be gone.

So, now you guys get to hear a personal story. Maybe I’ve said it before but you tell me whether you think this was right or not.  Y’all know, my daughter was on the spirit squad, Eddie Murray had to pony up money for a change of uniforms for all the girls on the cheer and the dance team  he did .   Those cute little cheerleading uniforms you saw them ware up till the year 2020 or often paid for by parents  

That was fine. They did get some perks, first pick of classes make sure everything fit their schedule because they had a practice schedule   They got per diem, etc., and at least for my daughter she was damn close face-to-face with all the action on the championship football season in 2015 and a final four run in 2019   Hotels, etc we’re paid for, all the girls I know on the team were pretty decent students and the connections they made landed them really decent jobs throughout the country when they graduated.

However, the final four in Minneapolis, after the upset of Duke.  All of the cheer squad was kicked off the plane to Minneapolis and put on a chartered bus.  The reason for that was the board of trustees each got to take three or four family members on the plane with them.  They were taking family, friends, nephews, and cousins.  

Cheers squad, and the guy who was Sparty all took it in stride, and I didn’t really care, but I thought, “ fuck these board members,” I can see spouses going, but now you’re taking cousins or a friend and that was bullshit

tGreenWay wrote:

Nordic wrote:

People that run for these positions are largely looking to gain power and influence. They don’t give two shits about MSU. Which appears to be the case here and was the case with Ferguson forever. They won’t be resigning because of this.

I don’t know the answer on how to appoint people to these positions. But a public election is asinine. They are names on a piece of paper. Equally as bad is voting for an individual simply because they have an R or D in front their name. That doesn’t make them a good person. Hell, I probably voted for at least one of these turds.

Maybe they should be appointed by the sitting governor and/or legislature. Two every two years. We hire these people to make these types of decisions. That is not going to solve all the problems, but the current proces blows.

Not to mention a term is 8 years long. That’s absurd.

That is ridiculous. 3-year term with two term max. These should not be permanent positions and they are abused as such.

Trapper Gus wrote:

Nordic wrote:

That is ridiculous. 3-year term with two term max. These should not be permanent positions and they are abused as such.

Are the 8 year terms to provide some stability (ha ha) on the BoT or to save money in elections?

Who is that working out...

The items on my Wish List would probably  require changing Michigan’s State Constitution is term limits and maximum time on board.

Term limits - 8 year terms provide stability.  BOT members limited to 2 terms and 18 years maximum if one serves until the next November election and serves the rest of the resigning or deceased trustee’s term.

MSU sets up Ethics and Transparency rules and agreement that all Trustees are required to sign prior to be sworn in.  That means no gifts, trips outside of university business (ie conferences).  If they violate rules like Vassar and Denno did going rogue and don’t follow a chain of command they can be replaced.

Trustees can fly on a team plane with a spouse, child or guest and those people’s names will be listed on the manifest.  They can buy their own hats, sweatshirts and other MSU swag for themselves and their travel guest.

Just hope this report gives Whitmer the cover to replace candidates nominated by Democrats.  In this highly political world the fact both were nominated by Democrats.   Using my pretzel logic it’s better to offend some butt hurt Democratic faction then deal with the immediate fallout by good selections for their replacements than if both were nominated by the GOP.

Should this be a non-partisan but MI Supreme Court and other court judgeships are non-partisan ( ) and they aren’t.

Trapper Gus wrote:

Dear MSU Community,

As chair of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, I’m writing to let you know the board has received the report from Miller & Chevalier and is reviewing the findings carefully. As you might recall, Miller & Chevalier was the law firm hired by MSU to investigate alleged Code of Ethics and Conduct violations by Board of Trustees members.

The board takes our responsibility and governance seriously and is committed to upholding our code of ethics.

Sincerely,

Trustee Dan Kelly
Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee

Governance using The 5 D’s of Dodge Ball 

DODGE, DIP, DIVE, DUCK and DODGE

We are going to see a text book case of COVER OUR ASSES at the BOT’s 10 PM Sunday meeting to discuss the Miller & Chevalier report of their fuck ups.

Chances Denno and Vassar submit their resignations?

The cynic in me says it’s between slim and none with none leading by 10 lengths at the turn.

Fuck Vassar and Denno right to hell

[tw]1764360956249796771?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

Whitmer has to get rid of these embarrassments. IDC that Rema resigned as president.

[tw]1764456259325968817?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

Unless I'm misreading it, "resigning as board chair" = still on the board, right?

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Unless I'm misreading it, "resigning as board chair" = still on the board, right?

That’s how I interpreted it.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Unless I'm misreading it, "resigning as board chair" = still on the board, right?

Fuck.

DWags wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:Unless I'm misreading it, "resigning as board chair" = still on the board, right?

Fuck.

Baby steps. Still a positive. This is not done.

Below is a link to email the governor. The page also contains a phone number if you prefer to make contact in that fashion. Time to pressure Gretchen, although I would hope she already knows what needs to be done.

https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ContactGovernor.aspx

tGreenWay wrote:Below is a link to email the governor. The page also contains a phone number if you prefer to make contact in that fashion. Time to pressure Gretchen, although I would hope she already knows what needs to be done.

https://somgovweb.state.mi.us/GovRelations/ContactGovernor.aspx

I would like to see Big Gretch to step up and put an end to this insanity, thereby sending a message to the Board, in general, and future members.

I suspect she wouldn't tolerate this form of insubordination, chaos, behind-the-scenes manipulation and overall conduct from her cabinet, she shouldn't tolerate it from the state's largest public institution.

while I realize the concept that executive office involvement could establish a dangerous precedent and a slippery slope (imagine some misogynistic, right wing knuckle-scraping christian in office deciding that, say.... books were a tool of the devil), but this insanity has gone on too long.

I harp on this a lot, but there is absolutely no reason voters should be electing the MSU Board. Or any other university board, for that matter. Yes, allowing the board members to be selected by the sitting governor opens the potential for politicization for the board, but I'd argue that having "Republican" or "Democrat" listed under their name on the ballot has already done that. The shit coming out about Rema is absolutely unacceptable for a board member of a major research institution. Kick her off the board. Let her play the victim, and lordy let her sue. Much like Tuck, the university has receipts. I wonder why he hasn't brought a suit against MSU yet, despite all the chest beating in the fall that he was going to?

Trapper Gus wrote:

CaptainSlow33 wrote:I harp on this a lot, but there is absolutely no reason voters should be electing the MSU Board. Or any other university board, for that matter. Yes, allowing the board members to be selected by the sitting governor opens the potential for politicization for the board, but I'd argue that having "Republican" or "Democrat" listed under their name on the ballot has already done that. The shit coming out about Rema is absolutely unacceptable for a board member of a major research institution. Kick her off the board. Let her play the victim, and lordy let her sue. Much like Tuck, the university has receipts. I wonder why he hasn't brought a suit against MSU yet, despite all the chest beating in the fall that he was going to?

Serious lawsuits take time to mature.  It less serious ones are the ones that are filed quickly.

Has he even completed the internal appeals process, yet?

Yes, that was completed back in January, I believe? University told him to kick rocks. He has been pretty quiet ever since. He could certainly be getting ready to build a case, but given the nature of some of the statements he was blasting out, I think he has to know he'd have a hard time making a case. Same with Reema. She can talk all she wants, but the university has a war chest built against her, and I think she knows it.