The Democratic candidate for the MSU Board of Trustees is running against eight others for one of two seats in Tuesday's board election.
Thompson is president of Service Employees International Union Local 517M, an organization that helps Michigan unions organize and bargain for contracts. The Owosso Township resident said he would like to share with the MSU community his 18 years of work experience.
"I found a connection to MSU during my time here and I would like to think 30 years after I graduated, I have gained some skills that I can provide to the university," Thompson said. "If I can touch some piece of the enormous growth that is happening on campus, I would be proud."
Amid protests, debates and anger, Thompson said he developed his love for MSU while the nation took part in the Vietnam War, he said. During the turbulent times, Thompson took note of the leadership skills of the university's 13th president, Walter Adams.
"He was president during a very exciting and tumultuous time in U.S. history," Thompson said. "There was a lot of suspicion of authority on campus, but Adams had a calming effect that I respected."
As a trustee, Thompson would bring his valuable experiences into the board room, said Stephen Reck, who works with Thompson as a political coordinator for SEIU Local 517M.
Because he believed in Thompson's skills, Reck said he quit his job with the state eight years ago and signed on with SEIU.
"At the local, we are all family as far as how he conducts business," Reck said of Thompson. "I came here because I respected his ability to lead people, the way he treats his employees and how he relates to our memberships."
According to Reck, Thompson has a good chance of nabbing a seat on the board because he is endorsed by the Michigan AFL-CIO, a group of 59 different unions across Michigan. The group has about 600,000 members.
"Particularly when you're talking about races that are kind of far down on the ticket people don't know who those candidates are," Reck said. "But through the labor endorsement, that makes a connection and they say, 'I don't know who this candidate is, but my union thinks he or she is a good candidate, so I'll vote for them.'"
And with a presidential election that pollsters are predicting will be a close call, some say if Democratic candidate John Kerry wins, Thompson's chances are even better. For instance, if a voter casts a ballot for Kerry, they will probably vote for a democratic trustee.
"It's probably intuitive for the uninformed voter to vote along party lines," said Tom Ingram, president of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
If elected, Thompson said he will focus on keeping tuition low by working to obtain private sector endowments and develop a solid work-study program.
"The board should be more responsible than making a phony pledge to keep tuition low," Thompson said.
The 57-year-old said he also would work to change the public's perception of the board. Thompson said the board has done too much decision-making behind the public's back during closed meetings.
"The trustees have a reputation for making back-door deals," Thompson said. "I also have concern that two or three board members lead the board and the rest follow. I'm not going to go along with that.
"I won't be afraid to go head to head to defend my decisions."
Jaclyn Roeschke can be reached at roesck1@msu.edu.
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Platforms
Tailgating: Specific issues of alcohol abuse need to be addressed because of safety concerns, but guidelines cannot be too broad-reaching. Most people tailgating are just having fun and not all the problem behavior involves students.
Medical school move: Absolutely opposed to moving MSU's College of Human Medicine based on current information.
Tuition increase: MSU administration should strive to keep fees as reasonable as possible. The university needs to work with private sector endowments and develop a strong work study program to hold on to its land grant tradition.
Selection process for the new president: Provost Lou Anna Simon will be an excellent president, but the board owed it to the people and to Simon to have a broader search.
Student and faculty involvement in decisions: Meeting with students will better inform trustees during their decision-making process. The board should make every avenue available in order to get faculty input.
Rights of lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender students: MSU is further along than other universities in recognizing their rights. Supports their rights and is endorsed by Gay Pride.
