Fred Poston is sorry students were inappropriately teargassed last April 2-3.
Poston, the vice president for finance and operations at MSU, made an apology at a joint meeting between Residence Halls Association and ASMSU, MSU's undergraduate student government.
The two bodies were talking about the events of last year and the plans to make sure the Final Four stays safe this year.
Poston said his apology was planned by the administration — even though MSU spokesman Terry Denbow called The State News to find out what Poston said.
Planned. Sure.
Taken at face value, at least students got an apology for the April 2-3 disturbances. The State News has been calling for one since April 4.
Except it was given by the wrong person, at the wrong time and at the wrong forum.
Poston shouldn't be the one apologizing for excessive force used by the police. MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon is the head of this university, and students deserve to hear an apology from her.
After all, she's ultimately responsible for the students on this campus and we need to hear her tell us that mistakes were made and she's sorry it happened.
Secondly, the apology is late. It's been 10 months since students were teargassed, almost a year. Where was this supposedly planned apology when the independent commission reviewing the disturbances released their draft report in October?
The least the administration could have done is have a recognizable university official make an announcement to the entire student population.
If students didn't read The State News or make it to the meeting, there's a good chance they don't know an apology was made.
If it was made on behalf of the MSU administration as Poston and other officials say it was, then it should be released to all students.
Maybe it could have been sent out in a letter or e-mail. We'd even take Simon putting it in her blog.
Anything that lets students know this apology is sincere, and was meant to go out to all of them, not just a handful at a meeting.
Students deserve better than this.
They deserve a sincere apology that is meaningful.
A lot of changes are being made within the MSU and East Lansing police departments that will hopefully prevent trouble this spring. If those work, no one will need an apology this year.
Until then, we'll be waiting for an apology that comes from the top.
