That discourse has led to petitions, emails, brand-new social media accounts and posts streamlining potential cell numbers and home addresses of the trustees. 

Here are some of the ways people are acting and reacting. 

Change.org petition

MSU alumna Victoria Bell started an online petition via change.org three weeks ago, calling for the resignation of Trustees Rema Vassar, Dennis Denno and Mike Balow. The petition was published in response to Guskiewicz’s departure and has been updated since its creation. 

Guskiewicz’s willingness to leave MSU for a pay cut “tells you everything you need to know,” Bell said in a phone call.

Bell’s petition had about 200 signatures when she started it, but took off following Izzo’s Monday interview, she said. Her petition had garnered over 11,987 signatures at the time of this publication. That was about 4,100 more than the night before.

“I never thought I would find myself writing a petition calling for the resignation of members of Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees,” Bell wrote in her petition. “But after years of controversy, dysfunction, and failed leadership, I believe enough is enough.”

“As Spartans, we expect our university’s leaders to put Michigan State first. We expect them to act with professionalism, integrity, and a commitment to the long-term success of our institution. Instead, we have watched repeated turmoil, public infighting, and instability damage the reputation of one of America’s great universities.”

In the petition, Bell referred to Guskiewicz and Batt’s departure as damage, adding they brought alignment and momentum to MSU that has been jeopardized. She told The State News the university has been losing presidents for the last 20 years.

Bell was a student at MSU when Larry Nassar was terminated and later convicted of child pornography and sexual conduct as a team physician. She watched presidents, athletic directors and other staff members resign or be pushed out. The constant changes were “distracting” and Bell can imagine current students feel the same way. 

“At this point, it has escalated into something different,” Bell said of the current Trustees’ and leadership events. “(Izzo) called on us to rally together, and that's exactly what we're doing. We haven't really seen something like this before, and I'm excited for the momentum to keep growing, and hopefully the right thing is done.” 

Bell said she is not an expert on every trustee but called for the removal of Vassar, Denno and Balow based on what she does know, adding “those three specifically I think have caused the most problems.” 

“At this time it does feel systemic,” Bell said. “We need a young, good presence of people who actually give a damn about the university that they're representing, instead of their own self-serving interests. So, I do think it means a little bit of an overhaul. I don't know if that means we do a special election, but I would love to see some of us, younger Spartan alums that really, really love this university, step up.”

Bell said she has MSU alumni friends who would love to run for the Board of Trustees as part of a solution. 

“I think 11,000 is already enough for them to open their eyes and finally step down,” Bell said. “If they're not, then we'll keep going till 20,000 signatures, we'll keep going until 30 (thousand), and we'll keep pushing this.”

MSUUntrustees account on X

An X account under the username @MSUUntrustees echoed Bell’s message in a post on Tuesday afternoon: “The cost of leadership turnover isn't measured in dollars. It's measured in lost momentum.”

The account bio says, “Tracking MSU board decisions, transparency issues, leadership turnover, and alumni concerns, with a mix of satire. 600,000+ Spartans. Accountability starts now.” 

The account was created in June 2026 and posts several times throughout the day, often with brief statements like the following: 

“Alumni don’t expect perfection. They expect accountability.” 

“Every leadership search starts over at zero. Relationships. Trust. Vision. Progress. All reset.”

“Michigan State doesn’t have a talent problem. It doesn’t have an alumni problem. It doesn’t have a donor problem. So what’s left?”

Change MSU account

Similarly, an X account with the username @ChangeMSU was created yesterday. The first post, which is pinned on the account, said:

“Starting this account because I'm tired, and I know a lot of you are as well. We went to the greatest university, but on-campus "leaders" are ruining it. It's not permanent, but it's time for common-sense Spartans to rise up. Follow to show we have strength in numbers #GoGreen.”

The account is run by an MSU alumnus and had a little over 600 followers at the time of publication. It links Bell’s petition in its bio and encourages reposting content, signing Bell’s petition and following @MSUUntrustees, although the account managers do not personally know each other. 

The alumnus started @ChangeMSU to facilitate change as someone who is no longer local, adding, “It’s all about strength in numbers.” They were motivated by family, friends and neighbors who have attended MSU in recent years and lacked some of the positive experiences the alumnus experienced. The account holder wishes to remain anonymous on the basis that the account is not about one person, but about the community.

Like Bell, the alumnus was a student at MSU during the Nassar scandal. They witnessed John Engler step in as Interim President of the university, and saw Engler leave due to community activism. 

“He was pushed out entirely because of actions taken by students on campus, and also by a handful of professors,” @ChangeMSU said. “I didn't necessarily agree with their approach to it, but it shows that MSU faithful can actually create the changes they want to see with their university.”

While the alumnus said students and professors fostered Engel’s resignation, they also believe students are at MSU to learn and find communities for themselves, not to ideate solutions to administrative struggles.

“I appreciate all those students who are equally fed up and who are trying to create actionable change,” @ChangeMSU said. “But at the same time, students are there to explore what they want to do themselves, not to explore how to fix a university, right? That's for alums. … So I'm going to keep doing that. I hope students keep enjoying themselves.”

The alumnus said MSU has wrestled with one embarrassing headline after another for nearly a decade. They never saw themselves creating something like @ChangeMSU and wish they weren’t in this situation. However, they believe the current conversations and activism surrounding the Board of Trustees are stronger now than in previous situations. 

“This feels different right now,” @ChangeMSU said. “It feels like there's going to be a level of persistence and follow-through, and I don't think that dismissing the common voice of the alums, like the Board of Trustees has done, is going to be enough. I think they're going to actually take into account what the community thinks.”

The alumnus believes every member of the MSU community will have a different solution that deserves equal weight, creating the need for a virtual community. 

“It's just about having a community discussion about what's the best pathway forward,” @ChangeMSU said. “Hopefully, Michigan State University, and those who still want to see it at its best, can recognize that there are voices who are passionate about this.”

Letters to the board

In addition to the new advocacy accounts, other social media accounts are sharing letters addressed to the Board of Trustees. 

A 2021 alumnus with the X username @HagadornDreams has sent a daily letter to the board since June 13.

The alumnus calls for the resignation of all but one Trustee, Kelly Tebay:

“The rest of you have governed this university the way students run a high school lunchroom — cliquish, self-serving, and utterly indifferent to the consequences for those you were appointed to protect.”

“You have failed the students. You have failed the faculty. You have failed the alumni. And if allowed to continue, you will fail every Spartan yet to come. I am formally requesting a meeting. I want to understand, on the record, what specific challenges make this role so difficult that abandoning your fiduciary and ethical obligations became an acceptable outcome.”

The alumnus has posted the email address and phone number of the Board of Trustees, as well as individual email addresses for Secretary of the Board of Trustees and Chief of Staff Stefan Fletcher, Deputy Secretary of the Board of Trustees Jackie VandenBosch and Executive Assistant to the Secretary and Chief of Staff Heather Waldrop.

They have also shared the link to sign up for public participation at the next Board of Trustees' meetings, scheduled Sept. 10 and 11 at 11 a.m.

Another alumnus with the X username @cayrp has posted their email to the board with the caption: “Doubt that it will make any difference but nothing to lose by doing it. Let the board know they are bad at their jobs. Send an email to trustees@msu.edu”

The alumnus wrote that the Board of Trustees has made them question their high regard for MSU because “there have been a number of scandals and issues that tie directly to you as a board.”

“You are supposed to represent the greater interests of the University not your own political interests. In the span of three weeks your actions have cost the university not one but two vital leaders, and there seems to be no semblance of an apology or even an admission of guilt.”

“On his way out the door former university president Kevin Guskiewicz listed the board of trustees as the main reason he was leaving FOR NEARLY A 50% PAY DECREASE OF WHAT HE WAS MAKING AT MSU!!” 

Contacting trustees directly

A spreadsheet with potential phone numbers and addresses of all Trustees but Sandy Pierce has been posted by an X account with the username @MSU_NYJetsFan. The account said they were not confident about Denno, Renee Knake Jefferson and Rebecca Bahar Cook’s numbers. The post had 25.4K views as of Tuesday night.

In the caption, the account wrote: 

“I am sharing public records contact info of MSU BoT solely for lawful, polite, respectful communication urging resignation. I explicitly discourage harassment, threats, intimidation, or home visits. Respect their privacy. Improper actions are your responsibility only.”

Several accounts cautioned the X account with comments including the following: 

“This doesn’t work. You’re opening yourself up to liability.”

“Don't share this, plenty of crazies out there.” 

“You gon get yourself hurt”

The account and another commenter defended themselves, writing that the information is available to the public. 

Another account responded: “Moronic post. Home addresses are completely unnecessary to proactively push to social media-public or not.”

The spreadsheet was supported by some, commenting: 

”thank you for your service” 

Prior to releasing its spreadsheet regarding the Trustees, the account posted, “Would I get in trouble if I posted the phone numbers and home addresses of the members on the Board of Trustees?”

It received two comments in response: “Do it!!!!!!” and “Only if they figure out the true Richard Wood" (the name on the account’s profile).

A bid for the MSU presidency

An Instagram account with the username @Edtillet_rootedinMSU made its first post on June 4, eight days after Guskiewicz’s departure was confirmed. The account encourages the sharing of stories involving positive interactions with Ed Tillett, including campaign graphics and slogans. Tillett is the Director of Multicultural Business Programs at Broad College of Business.

Tillett addressed viewers on camera in the account’s second post, openly declaring he is campaigning for university president. Tillett grew up in Spartan Village, earned a bachelor’s degree in physiology prior to a master’s degree in health communications and has held full-time staff positions at the university since 2019.

“I spent so many years serving this university in a variety of ways, because I believe what Michigan State can do for people,” Tillett said. “I've seen it open doors, create opportunities, and transform lives. That's why I'm openly pursuing the opportunity to serve as Michigan State's next president.”

“Honestly, this wasn't something that I arrived at lightly. And what I've heard from so many of you is simple: we want a university that brings people together, we want leadership that's visible, connected, and accountable, and we want someone who understands what makes Michigan State so special. I believe in this community, I believe in our future, and I believe the best chapters in Michigan State are still ahead of us. By listening, bringing people together and staying focused on our priorities, we can build an even stronger future for generations of Spartans to come.”

In a response to a comment, Tillett encouraged viewers to “please share, invite friends to learn. Write the board and the recently released search firm Isaacson Miller.”

One viewer asked Tillett if he plans to keep and expand the development and funding initiatives Guskiewicz and Batt started. 

Tillet said he intends to build on the initiatives and would begin with “restoring and maintaining the existing relationships that brought those to fruition” before finding new relationships.