MSU Board of Trustees members Dorothy Gonzales and David Porteous said Wednesday they had perused — but not read — through the report from the independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 disturbances.
"You have to spend a lot of time going through the As and Bs and Cs of that to make sure you understand," Gonzales said.
Porteous, who is also the board's chairman, gave a moderate summary of the contents of the report when Residence Halls Association members asked his opinion on the report itself at their weekly meeting.
About 300 tear-gas canisters were released when a police-estimated crowd of about 3,000 people spilled out into East Lansing streets after the men's basketball team lost to the University of North Carolina in the Final Four. Nearly $5,775 in property damage was caused that night.
"No matter how it was caused or where the blame lay, we as a community have to figure out ways to avoid (future disturbances) because it hurts our image not only across the state but across the country," Porteous told RHA's General Assembly.
Gonzales said the other board members had also not fully read the report, but it's a topic they will most likely discuss in future meetings.
RHA representatives asked questions of the trustees, and topics included state funding for the university, the new medical school in Grand Rapids, residence hall renovations and water quality in the residence halls. The organization routinely invites university officials to talk to members.
"To the extent that there are problems, it's important for you to let us know and share that with the university," Porteous told the assembly regarding water. "We always try to make sure the water is good quality, and I don't think you'd be drinking it otherwise."
But several representatives said they don't drink the water in the residence halls because of its poor taste and discoloration at times.
"Part of the issue is the realization between health and what we want the water to be," RHA representative Tom Edwards said. "There's miscommunication on that."
During the meeting, Gonzales and Porteous stressed the importance of students' voices in the board's decision-making process.
"Students really underestimate the power they have on this campus," Gonzales said. "The more you reach out and share with us, it makes us better trustees."
The pair encouraged students to attend board meetings. There is a public comment section at each monthly meeting, at which the general population can address the board with concerns. Students who wish to speak to the board must apply ahead of time for permission to address them. Public comment is limited to five minutes per person.
"A lot of the issues you've brought up tonight, I haven't heard about," Gonzales said.
RHA representative Eric Hinojosa said he was glad the trustees came to the meeting to hear students' issues, but they could have answered questions better.
"Some of them I was kind of annoyed that they dodged," he said.
RHA President Kevin Newman said the organization tries to have at least one board member at their meeting once a semester, and this is the first time that two trustees came to the same meeting.
Kristen Daum can be reached at daumkris@msu.edu.
