The last time the Michigan State University Board of Trustees publicly sat face-to-face was during their meeting in Benton Harbor, and President Kevin Guskiewicz was set to leave for another institution in a matter of weeks. 

Guskiewicz later backtracked, but only after MSU found itself yet again under the public eye as trustees were doxxed in retaliation for pushing out the beloved president.  

Now, three months later, faculty, students and public commentators walked into the Hannah Administration building ready to voice their concerns with a still-fractured board.  

Code of Ethics and Conduct 

In one of the university’s last attempts to retain Guskiewicz before his now-reversed departure for Clemson University, the Board of Trustees was asked to revise their code of ethics and conduct. 

After not supporting the board’s newly enforced code of ethics and conduct — which bars trustees from publicly dissenting from majority board decisions in their individual capacities — trustees Rema Vassar and Mike Balow were censured.

Since the May 17 special meeting, concerns about the code's restrictions on free speech have cleaved the board in two. 

“The policy is not about limiting speech or restricting board members from raising concerns, providing oversight or questioning decisions,” Board Chair Brianna Scott said. "Instead, it establishes standard governing practices.”

Trustee Sandy Pierce emphasized the code's importance from a “fiduciary” perspective, saying these standards are common “across sectors."

Regardless, Balow said the revised code “probably needs to change if we're gonna be true to our ideals.”