Michigan State University Trustee Rema Vassar comments to the board via zoom at Hannah Administration Building in East Lansing, Michigan on Friday, April 10, 2026.
The annual Mackinac Policy Conference will be missing four Michigan State University Board of Trustees this week, and for two of them it’s not by choice.
By not supporting the board’s newly enforced code of ethics and conduct, trustees Rema Vassar and Mike Balow had their credentials to the conference revoked, falling in line with the code’s new policy of sanctioning board members that refused to do so.
Six of the eight trustees were confirmed to attend the Mackinac Policy Conference from May 26 to May 29, except for trustees Renee Knake-Jefferson and Dennis Denno, MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant told The State News last Wednesday.
The board approved revisions to its code of ethics and conduct in a 5-3 vote during a special meeting on May 17, barring trustees from publicly dissenting from majority board decisions in their individual capacities despite internal pushback.
Dennis Denno voted to not approve the revisions, but signed the letter on Tuesday, days after it was due, according to The Detroit News.
In a statement sent to The State News, board chair Brianna Scott wrote, "It is our privilege as trustees to use our positions to showcase MSU’s excellence, our world-class faculty and staff and the enviable success of our Spartans. It is not our role to overshadow Michigan State University."
By Sunday, May 24 at 5 p.m., one week after the meeting, trustees were asked to sign the statement of acknowledgement. According to the resolution, if a trustee refused to sign the statement, they would be met with consequences such as being blocked from MSU events that don’t require them to be present in their formal board capacity, the loss of tickets to games, the loss of reimbursements and the loss of university-funded legal representation.
The consequences came quicker than expected for Balow.
Balow said the board secretary told him before the signatures were due that if he didn’t sign the revised code, his credentials would be pulled.
When asked if he would be pursuing legal action following the passing of the new code of ethics and conduct, Balow said he is "investigating" what "avenues might be available."
The trip to Mackinac was booked months ago and was non-refundable for the university, Balow said, making the retraction of his and Vassar’s credentials cost the university "thousands."
"I think it looks very vindictive against trustees who would not sign it who still want to do good work for MSU by going up to Mackinac," Balow said.
According to the Mackinac Policy Conference website, the cost for members to attend the conference ranges from $3,500 to $4,000, with non-members paying $5,200.
Guerrant clarified that some trustees will be attending with their employers, but may still attend events pertaining to the university.
It "wouldn't be surprising" to Balow if these aren't the only repercussions he faces for not signing the revisions.
Despite not having credentials, Balow said he will be going up to Mackinac on Wednesday regardless, but this time without access to the Grand Hotel, where the conference is held, and on his own dime.
"My bottom line is this makes MSU worse because I was going up there to do good work, interface with state legislators and others to talk about higher education, tuition, state funding and now I'm not gonna be able to do that," Balow said. "I'm not sure how the school is better off."
Soon after the resolution's introduction on May 17, the revisions to the board’s code ignited a free speech debate amid concerns that it restricted trustees' First Amendment rights. The changes emphasized public "loyalty" to the university and bar trustees from publicly dissenting from majority board decisions in their individual capacities.
"Our duty of loyalty is to the state and the people that put us there to oversee MSU," Balow said of the resolution.
Trustees in support of the resolution said the revisions would help the board "govern themselves."
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
"The Code of Ethics and Conduct does not prevent trustees from communicating their positions to the public, conducting necessary oversight, or asking tough questions in the pursuit of fulfilling our responsibility to the public and to MSU," Scott wrote. "Absent a clear standard of governance, we risk reverting to a time when the antics and dysfunction of the board regrettably took center stage."
At the same meeting, the board approved an extension for MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz's contract, as well as a $1 million raise — something that has sparked questions about the university’s ethics.
"It's a very chilling effect on anybody trying to get the story right about MSU, because how would people know what's really going on if people can't get honest answers to questions?" Balow asked.
Vassar could not immediately be reached for comment at the time of publication.
