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CORES, COPS vote 'no confidence' in Board of Trustees, call for board to release Nassar documents

November 6, 2023
The Board of Trustees during a meeting in the Hannah Administration Building on Oct. 27, 2023.
The Board of Trustees during a meeting in the Hannah Administration Building on Oct. 27, 2023.

The Council of Racial and Ethnic Students, or CORES, along with Council of Progressive Students, or COPS, Coalition voted "no confidence" in the Board of Trustees, calling for the board to cease internal conflict and instead release the Nassar documents.

The CORES and COPS Coalition’s Nov. 6 statement calls on the Board of Trustees to “find a path that helps heal and bring the University together as we navigate through our pain, mourning and other emotions.”

“We are appalled by the lack of transparency of the past semesters, as well as the disarray and disunity shown by the Trustees this semester,” the statement read. “The Board must address its internal conflict, and change its internal culture. We … demand the Board of Trustees to not target one another and calling for another to resign rather, to unify behind supporting students.”

Trustee Brianna Scott called for trustee Rema Vassar’s removal as board chair on Oct. 22, alleging Vassar bullied colleagues and interfered in legal disputes.

In April, Vassar refused to vote on releasing the 6,000 Nassar documents after promising a vote on whether to do so. Attorney General Dana Nessel had demanded the documents' release, and later said Vassar not following through made “no sense whatsoever.”

The CORES and COPS Coalition noted in their statement that MSU has “been involved in scandal after scandal, from Larry Nassar’s crimes to the high turnover rate at the Office of the President of the University.”

MSU's undergraduate government also voted no confidence in the Board of Trustees on Nov. 2, also demanding to release the Nassar documents.

“On behalf of the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students and the Council of Progressive Students, the Coalition E-board, we echo the call by (Associated Students of MSU) to demand the release of the Nassar Documents, along with better support for students by reassuring us with stability and and supporting our missions as students and student organizations,” the coalition said in the statement

In their statement, the CORES and COPS Coalition said the constant nationwide coverage of MSU has caused many students, alumni, faculty and staff to feel “ashamed and embarrassed” to be Spartans.

“Furthermore, many students feel like they are not heard or valued here,” the statement said.

The CORES and COPS Coalition also asks the board to attend their events and “listen and learn” from their students.

“Learn what is needed in the Multi-Cultural Center as it is being built, learn what resources student leaders need and learn what communities need in this time of global conflict,” the statement said.

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