Appointed interim president Teresa Woodruff recommended Associate Provost Thomas Jeitschko replace her. Also, members of the Steering Committee responded to Trustee Pat O'Keefe's comments at the last board meeting, calling them inappropriate.
"Woodruff has been one of the most open admin for the student body," Asian Pacific American Student Organization Rep. Connor Le said. "She's willing to meet with students to talk about advocacy issues ... I think that she will do a great job working and communicating with the student body of MSU to see what problems are happening."
"What we try to do is really center our spaces around how we can create a space where everybody feels like they belong, and they can really be themselves,” ICA Martin Lomax said.
The appointment of Provost Teresa K. Woodruff as interim president leaves ASMSU leaders and faculty senators feeling hopeful for the future.
Woodruff was appointed less than three weeks after President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. resigned citing a loss of confidence within the board.
The Board of Trustees will name the interim president on Oct. 31 at noon during a special meeting in room 401 of the Hannah Administration Building.
“I am tired of reading about the sexual transgressions of the faculty, which are like reading "50 Shades of Grey" and are as long as "Gone with the Wind," without knowing what the outcomes are of such behavior,” O’Keefe said.
Walking into room 401 of the Hannah Administration Building, the Board of Trustees carried the weight of no-confidence votes from the MSU community and even the university president. Trustee Brianna Scott called President Samuel L. Stanley's resignation “collateral damage” from ongoing miscommunication and distrust within the board. Board chair Dianne Byrum said she would not be rerunning for chair in 2023.
"Students have just seen major changes happen before their eyes with no answer," Kovach said. ASMSU demands the Board of Trustees better include students in the presidential search and Title IX affairs.
During academic committee meeting on Oct. 27, ASMSU discussed its expectations for the Board of Trustees and advocated for increasing OCAT accessibility and establishing pop-up vaccination clinics on campus.
Trustee Melanie Foster said athletic director Alan Haller will work to "strategize a plan forward" for the swim and dive team within the next academic year.
President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. said today's Board of Trustees meeting will likely be his final one. The room gave Stanley a standing ovation following his comments.
"One of my hopes is that students, faculty and staff and community members who interact with the ofrendas —who are not familiar with Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos — that they're able to understand ways in which anyone can celebrate and honor life after death," Flores said.
Whether watching the game in Ann Arbor or at home in East Lansing, both universities have collaborated to provide important reminders to ensure that this weekend’s game and festivities are safe for everyone.
"It's also an intentional community," Public policy senior Sky Stillwell said. "So, you have to be ready to work towards that and live cooperatively with your housemates as well. That's definitely a difference to other housing options and something people really should be ready for."
The statement listed reasons explaining the endorsement for Woodruff. Among those reasons were Woodruff’s ability to continue the implementation of the MSU 2030 Strategic Plan and DEI Plan and progress toward Title IX compliance.
"I think longevity is a gift — you don’t know how long you’re going to be here, but it’s a gift that you ought to try to treat it right," Bibbs said. "Take care of yourself and try to stay here as long as you can."
Here's a look at what's on the agenda, including the recommendation of Brian Quinn for acting secretary and chief of staff.
“I wanted to help people and to make sure people have a voice when they don’t feel like they do and just be someone’s biggest advocate they have,” Bailey Hall residential assistant Marvin Pride said.
MSU Board of Trustees candidates speak on what they will be looking for in the next president.