The university’s policy on undercover police surveillance of student groups was established Friday by the MSU Board of Trustees.
The resolution said undercover investigations can only begin under “extraordinary circumstances” and with the approval of the university president.
Board members expressed an interest in reviewing guidelines to be set by the Task Force on Student-Police Relations, which was created following the investigation of the placement of an undercover officer into a student group last year.
“This affirms the university’s commitment to invoke such procedure only in extraordinary circumstances,” Trustee Dee Cook said. “I look forward to establishing the definition of extraordinary circumstances.”
MSU President M. Peter McPherson announced to the board he will again donate $25,000 from his salary to the university following the board’s approval of a 3 percent increase to deferred payments, which he will receive if he stays at MSU until 2003.
Board members also honored the MacCready family from which they accepted a $1.45 million land donation. Douglas MacCready said his family and MSU have a similar vision on how to use the land, which will now be called the MacCready Reserve.
“The hope is to take care of the property as a nature reserve and allow education to take place,” he said.
The Jackson Country nature preserve will be used by the forestry and fisheries and wild life departments.
The board approved the naming of Sue Carter, an associate professor of journalism, to replace the retiring Nancy Pogel in January as secretary of the Board of Trustees and executive assistant to the president.
Pogel has served in that capacity for more than six years, and will continue to advise the administration for a year.
MSU Trustee Dorothy Gonzales, who worked with Carter under Gov. James Blanchard, said Carter is prepared to shoulder the new burden.
“Anyone who goes to the North Pole - who is going to question what this woman can do?” Gonzales said.
Carter made a trip to the North Pole earlier this year.
“Through my work in academic governance and the provost’s office and dealing with the communication program, I became known,” Carter said.
Carter said she will work on the office’s communication and continue in Pogel’s efforts. She will not continue her work for the School of Journalism next spring.
“I will bring a number of perspectives and my approach to this position will be an inclusive one,” she said. “Dr. Pogel has done a terrific job
