“I’m not going to opine or speak about any individual situation or case of discipline,” Guskiewicz told The State News. “What I will say is that I have never filed a complaint or asked anyone to file a complaint about a student, ever. I want to be clear about that.”

The Office of Student Support and Accountability complaint against Folts was filed by a campus police officer, who accused the student of harassing and intimidating Guskiewicz at Sparticipation, an annual club fair. 

Folts displayed "aggressiveness," the complaint said, when he walked up directly to Guskiewicz to press him with questions about university investments that activists say are tied to the state of Israel and weapons manufacturing. 

The confrontation amounted to intimidation, making Guskiewicz fear for his safety, according to the disciplinary message sent to Folts, which he shared with The State News. 

Reached by phone Thursday, Folts said Guskiewicz’s explanation “does not sound realistic to me.”

“It would be baffling to me that they didn’t consult him in some shape,” Folts said. “The allegation is harassment and intimidation of the president.”

The confrontation occurred while Folts was participating in a protest by the Hurriya Coalition — a group of student organizations that have called for MSU's divestment from Israel. That group is set to hold a press conference at the Hannah Administration Building this afternoon to address the pending charges.

A hearing on the charges is set for Nov. 4, Folts said. After that, a hearing board will decide whether Folts indeed violated university policies and, if so, what sanctions he will face. Possible punishments range from a written expression of disapproval, restitution, or even dismissal from the university. 

It’s unclear if Guskiewicz has participated in the disciplinary proceeding thus far or if he will appear at the hearing. Folts said he hasn’t gotten any indication that the president is involved, but isn’t privy to communications between the other party and the OSSA. Guskiewicz declined to say if he has been involved in the proceedings.

“I learned of that when it was sent to me in a news article; that’s how I learned that there had been something filed regarding a disciplinary action against a student,” he said. The State News first reported the charges against Folts last week. 

“I’m not going to say anymore,” Guskiewicz said. “This is a student disciplinary action, regardless of who was involved with it, I’m not gonna comment on it.”