Vassar’s arguments stemmed from the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to drop an appeal of a federal judge's decision which stopped the Trump administration from withholding federal funding from institutions that maintained DEI programs.

MSU administrators, however, say that Vassar’s piece mischaracterized the efforts made by the university to support students through these federal directives. MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, in a press conference after a Board of Trustees meeting Friday, said the university is currently in the process of correcting “several inaccuracies” in Vassar’s essay.

With the federal government dropping its appeal again the judge's decision, Vassar wrote in her essay that there is "zero legal justification" for MSU to continue to dismantle DEI efforts at MSU.

Since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the university has removed references to DEI from several public-facing websites and instructed student organizations, including groups based around certain identities, to adopt language that makes it clear that all students are welcome to join, among other changes.

Vassar’s piece included several demands for the university, writing that MSU should "reverse every decision made under the false pretense of legal compliance."

"Like many on our leadership team, we were disappointed by the Op Ed," Guskiewicz said.

Board Chair Brianna Scott and Guskiewicz said they both did not find out about Vassar’s piece until it was published Monday. They added that they have spoken to Vassar since its publication.

"Unfortunately, that article cast a lot of doubt where really it should not have been, and it unfortunately places us and the work that we've done into a negative light," Scott said.

Following the publishing of Vassar’s piece, Scott said she met with several student organizations yesterday who had concerns over the essay, adding that MSU is "going to continue to rebuild those relationships."

Vassar, in a text message to The State News seeking comment, wrote to "Please consult BSA (Black Students' Alliance) students and their advisor and ask if I mischaracterized their experiences. They matter most and their voices are the most important ones to represent." 

BSA President Jayanti Collins, Vice President Miah Gill and Advisor Jason Worley did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.

The first demand by Vassar called upon MSU to release a statement apologizing to students who were impacted by reduced institutional backing for DEI and acknowledge its decision to dismantle equity programs as "a policy choice, not a legal requirement."

Last year, the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students & Council of Advocacy and Marginalized Students (CORES & CAMS) were notified they would no longer receive automatic funding from MSU. Previously, MSU Spokesperson Amber McCann said, $100,000 was collectively allocated to CORES & CAMS groups from the university and deposited to their accounts.

Vassar, in her piece, called upon MSU to restore that funding “at minimum, and return CORES’ office space, direct advising and organizational structure."

McCann added that MSU has restructured how student organizations can request additional funding from MSU and said that Vassar mischaracterized that CORES & CAMS groups are no longer receiving funding from the university.

"There's essentially a pot of money, and Student Affairs has created a uniform system by which all RSOs (Registered Student Organizations) can come and seek funds from that pot of money, rather than designating any specific amount to anyone that is more or less than the other — it's essentially an application process," McCann said.

Guskiewicz echoed McCann’s statement during the press conference, saying that although there have been changes to the way students request funding, “it's still available to them."

Guskiewicz also took issue with Vassar’s demand that MSU restore Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer Jabbar Bennett’s position to "vice president for diversity equity and inclusion at the cabinet level with appropriate budget and authority." Bennett had his title tweaked to remove the word 'diversity' at the board’s October 2025 meeting; a decision Vassar voted against. 

This change in title was requested by Bennett, Guskiewicz said.

"Dr. Bennett is still a member of this leadership team," Guskiewicz said. "He asked about a title change to better reflect the work that he and his team do — and that change was made."

In the summer of 2025 MSU quietly removed references to DEI across several public-facing pages and its 2030 Strategic Plan website. Vassar, in her piece, called on MSU to reverse those changes.

Guskiewicz said MSU had begun revamping its strategic plan "long before the Trump administration put executive orders in place."

He added that the withdrawal of this appeal doesn’t mean that the federal government isn’t continuing to investigate academic institutions. 

"They, in fact, are still investigating institutions around issues of affirmative action, and we have a responsibility to follow federal and state laws," Guskiewicz said. "The process we went through, the compliance review, has given us the confidence that we are complying with federal and state law while still providing the types of resources we believe our students need."

Earlier today, a federal appeals court rejected a challenge to the Trump administration's efforts to ban DEI programs at federal agencies and businesses with government contracts.

McCann said that this ruling showcases the instability in the court systems and how DEI will continue to be challenged by the federal government.

"The university's commitment is to its mission and to upholding that and ensuring our continued compliance, not trying to anticipate what's changing or different interpretations on a day-to-day basis," McCann said. "We're really rooted in long-standing existing law and statute."