'I attended to be supportive of free speech'

During his remarks before the start of public comments, Trustee Mike Balow noted that he attended a vigil honoring Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was assassinated in early September.

Kirk rose to prominence proselytizing conservative politics to young people on college campuses in a debate form that made him highly effective to some and abrasive to others.

Noting that "a lot of people take issue with his opinions," Balow said that he attended the rally to support freedom of speech and to stand against political violence of all kinds.

"I would stand in support of people that stand against that," Balow added.

Social studies secondary education junior Vincent Delgado, who identified as a trans person of color, chastised Balow for his presence at the vigil

"You cannot expect to stand in the front row of a vigil for a man who endangered my community, speak about his death being a gut punch to you, and expect marginalized students affected by Kirk’s rhetoric to think you are just supporting free speech and standing against political violence," Delgado said.

Delgado had been "waiting and waiting" for Balow to address the disciplinary charges facing student Eli Folts, who was accused of making President Kevin Guskiewicz feel unsafe during a pro-Palestinan protest. The case has become a lightning rod for discussion of free speech and student protest on campus. 

"I ask you to better represent and protect your trans and marginalized students by apologizing for your decision to pick and choose which lives matter enough for you to say something," Delgado said.

Craig Smith, who said he is a parent of an undergraduate student and a University of Michigan faculty member, made a passing slight at Balow — who had mentioned during his remarks that Americans enjoy greater freedoms of speech than other countries.

Political persecution is present in America, Smith said, "It's typically just not people who are rich white men who attend Charlie Kirk memorials, who experience those things."

G.I. Bill update

Balow also mentioned during his remarks that delays in G.I. Bill disbursements were "being worked on," as a part of his acknowledgement of Veterans Day.

"There’s also been some snafus and getting payments and things like that over this semester and those things are being worked on thanks to that center," Balow said, referencing the MSU Center for Veterans and Military-Affiliated Students.

The State News reported in April that an administrative bottleneck at MSU was causing delays for student veterans who rely on G.I. Bill funding. To cover their expenses in the interim, students have had to get extra jobs, take on debt, or simply forgo certain expenses.

G.I. Bill funds come from the federal government, but "certifying officials" at universities must approve them each semester for every student.

The most recent guidance from the federal government recommends that schools employ one full-time official for every 125 students using G.I. Bill funds. Until recently, MSU’s ratio was closer to one for every 500 students, with just two officials and over 1000 students seeking funds.

Over the summer, MSU hired a third official, according to spokesperson Mark Bullion. The university also adjusted the timing of the certification process to start one week sooner, which Bullion said has already improved timelines somewhat.

Starting in spring semester, MSU will also have an additional employee dedicate half of their time to certifying G.I. Bill funds, Bullion said.

Misspelled nameplate

Former MSU Humphrey Fellow Tariq Thabet, who was killed in an Israeli bombing outside of his apartment in Central Gaza City in 2023, was included in an "MSU STUDENT MEMORIAL TRIBUTE" plaque after his passing.

The plaque, which memorialized Tariq Thabet and others who died during the 2023-2024 academic year, was dedicated in July of 2024. A misspelling of Thabet’s last name that read “Thaber” on the plaque, which had seemingly gone unnoticed until now, was a topic of discussion among public commenters.

In a tearful speech, law student Alissa Hakim recounted her time in Lebanon during the Israel-Palestine conflict, sharing an experience where she survived Israeli bombing alongside her family. At one point, she struggled to continue, requesting that her three minute time limit be paused to collect herself, which was denied.

"And now I'm back here, not knowing how you guys would have reacted if I had died, if my name would be misspelled on a plaque, on a tree, like Tariq Thabet, or if you would acknowledge my blood on your hands," she said through tears.

University spokesperson Amber McCann said the board meeting was the first time the university heard of the spelling issue. Another spokesperson said that the university is "looking into it."

Spartan Ventures

The board approved creating a new nonprofit, tax-exempt organization designed to advance the interests of the department of athletics.

The organization, called Spartan Ventures, will take charge of fundraising for college sports in the hopes of supporting future NIL deals for student-athletes, according to a press release. 

Spartan Ventures will also manage the money that comes into the university from its media rights deals, MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant said.

Spartan Ventures will be overseen by a seven-seat board of directors, with the board of trustees, athletic director and university president each being responsible for delegating a member. The other four board members, Balow said, will be "creative people who are going to help fundraise, who are going to help plan, who are going to help market," MSU sports.

Athletics Director J Batt spoke at the meeting in support of creating Spartan Ventures and said the organization would maintain MSU's competitive advantage in the world of collegiate athletics.

"This innovative structure will provide Michigan State Athletics a competitive advantage, efficient efficiency, innovation and adaptability enable operations to occur in a more nimble manner," Batt.

College of Osteopathic Medicine Solicits applications

Daniel Breese, a former applicant to Michigan State University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, pressured the board to release information about an investigation regarding application fees.

He said an Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance investigation has reacted a conclusion, however those contents have not been made public. Breese urged the board to release the full investigation.

In March, Breese accused the college of soliciting fees for application submissions that it ultimately did not review.

Breese claimed that the university misleads applicants by soliciting payments for the secondary application, while not necessarily intending to ever review their application. 

Breese previously told The State News that "most universities" refrain from selling secondary applications to applicants whose GPA and test scores wouldn’t meet the minimum requirements to get into the program. MSU doesn't refrain, he claimed, despite also having access to applicants' GPA and test scores.  

Main library and botanical garden renovations

Michigan State University approved remodeling the main library's north entrance and redesigning the Beal Botanical Garden at its Friday meeting.

The main library and botanical garden renovations passed together as part of a consent agenda unanimously with no discussion.

The changes to the heavily trafficked plaza would include removing the two fountains and installing more green space, outdoor seating and group work areas. The university hopes the redesigned spaces will be "a showpiece for the university" that catches the eyes of prospective students.

The preliminary estimated cost is between $10 million and $11 million that the university will fundraise for.

Changes to the botanical garden include constructing a building on the outskirts of the garden, new pathways and ponds. Those efforts are meant to help "restore Beal to its wilder past" and enhance support for teaching and research in the garden.

The plan will be carried out through a series of individual projects expected to cost $12 million in total, with each project proceeding independently once adequate funding is secured.

The board also approved the appointment of the College of Human Medicine's new interim dean.