https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/education/2023/10/24/rema-
vassar-michigan-state-trustees-brianna-scott-allegations/71298072007/

EAST LANSING � Michigan State University Board of Trustees Chairperson
Rema Vassar late Monday refuted allegations of bullying, ethics violations
and other complaints from a trustee who demanded her resignation or
removal over the issues.

"At a time where we have a responsibility to show leadership on a
Presidential search, our Title IX roles and responsibilities, a search for
a head football coach, and lawsuits both pending and imminent, three Board
members are focused on what I can only guess are personal grievances,"
Vassar wrote. "This letter and the false accusations underlying it are a
tremendous distraction from the important work we need to do."

Trustee Brianna Scott, a Democrat, sent a seven-page letter Sunday to
fellow trustees accusing Vassar of being a bully and "a pattern of
violating our codes of conduct, ethics, and conflict of interest,
including engaging in repeated undue influence, and bullying of Board
members and administrators."

Vassar, a Democrat, said Scott's allegations simply aren't true.

"Finally, I wholly reject the coded language of 'bully' when describing me
in any context," Vassar wrote. "None of the assertions made regarding me
and the Interim president are true. However, I did tell Trustee Scott that
she should read about leadership, race and racism, and literature related
to Board responsibilities."

Scott, who suggested Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should remove Vassar if she
doesn't resign, outlined 10 instances she said support her position. The
most recent allegation is that before the September MSU board meeting,
Vassar attempted to convince other trustees to reject amendments to their
bylaws that would change the term of board chairs to one year on an
alternating basis, based on seniority.

Republican trustee Dan Kelly, who is the Audit, Risk and Compliance
Committee chair, said the school has begun an investigation into Scott's
claims.

�...[I]n my capacity as Chair of the Board�s Audit, Risk and Compliance
Committee I agree a review of whether these allegations rise to the level
of a violation of our Code of Ethics and Conduct is appropriate," he
wrote. �Following the completion of the review, any recommendations will
be shared with the full Board, who I am confident will take the
appropriate action in a fair and unbiased manner.

Trustee Dennis Denno said he supports Vassar and is "disappointed some
Trustees are grandstanding with false accusations to a personal
grievance."

Scott, in an email Monday, referred the State Journal to trustees Dianne
Byrum, Renee Knake-Jefferson and Kelly Tebay for additional comment.
Messages were left for Byrum, Knake-Jefferson and Tebay, all Democrats.

Interim President Teresa Woodruff, in a statement late Monday, did not
directly address the allegations, but said her responsibilities "have been
challenging at times."

"As the university bylaws state, I serve to promote, support and protect
the interests of Michigan State University. As outlined in a recent
trustee letter, these responsibilities have been challenging at times,"
she said. "Regardless of these matters, I have been unwavering in my
support and dedicated work on behalf of our outstanding students, faculty,
and staff as we collaboratively advance knowledge and transform lives.�

Vassar disputed Scott's allegations point by point in a lengthy statement.

Scott accused Vassar of releasing the Quinn Emanuel investigation into
Woodruff's dismissal of former business school dean Sanjay Gupta in March
2023 without discussing doing so with the rest of the board and against
the advice of MSU�s general counsel and the Quinn Emanuel attorneys.

Vassar denied acting unilaterally, saying the entire board "was then and
is still now engaged in this matter." Vassar criticized Scott, an
attorney, for releasing what she called confidential communications
publicly.

"This is inaccurate. In February, after lengthy discussions, a majority of
the Board voted to release the findings of the Quinn Emanuel Report in the
interest of transparency and accountability, and affirmed that decision
just before it was released," Vassar said.

According to the board minutes from Feb. 10, 2023, the Quinn Emanuel
report release was approved with all eight trustees, including Scott,
voting in favor.

Vassar is also accused of reaching out to the Michigan Attorney General
Dana Nessel's office asking for the release of "thousands of long-withheld
documents relating to the university's handling of disgraced ex-MSU doctor
Larry Nassar." Scott claims Vassar's actions prompted a group of survivors
of Nassar to file a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees.

Vassar said that is an inaccurate recounting of the incident.

"Trustee Scott then said she spoke with Attorney General Dana Nessel,
incorrectly represented our intentions, and was reportedly told that, in
fact, the AG did not want the documents. Therefore, the Board decided not
to give them to the AG. There is nothing improper about my actions,"
Vassar claimed.

"In short, there is no basis in any of the allegations in Trustee Scott�s
letter. Dysfunction on the MSU Board of Trustees long pre-dates my tenure
as a board member," Vassar said. "And as the first African American woman
ever elected to chair this Board, it is very disappointing that instead of
showing unity and a steady hand during a tough time for our university,
three members of our MSU Board of Trustees are more focused on undermining
me instead of working together to do the job we were elected or appointed
to do. Though I regret that we are engaging in a public debate, I could
not allow these meritless allegations to go unaddressed."

The board controversy comes as the school is in the midst of trying to
hire a new president to replace former president Samuel Stanley Jr. He
resigned citing a loss of confidence in the board. The school named Teresa
Woodruff interim president, but she has said she isn't a candidate for the
full-time job. Denno has said MSU will have a president in place by
Thanksgiving. In addition, the school is searching for a football coach
after terminating Mel Tucker in September after allegations arose that he
had an inappropriate relationship with a school vendor.

Whitmer responded to the controversy Monday.

"I'm taking it very seriously," Whitmer said. "I think the allegations, if
accurate, amount to a serious breach of conduct in what we expect of our
board members and ... the oath that they took."

--
We live in a time where intelligent people are being silenced so that
stupid people won't be offended.

Durham Report: The FBI has an integrity problem. It has none.

No collusion - Special Counsel Robert Swan Mueller III, March 2019.
Officially made Nancy Pelosi a two-time impeachment loser.

Thank you for cleaning up the disaster of the 2008-2017 Obama / Biden
fiasco, President Trump.

Under Barack Obama's leadership, the United States of America became the
The World According To Garp. Obama sold out heterosexuals for Hollywood
queer liberal democrat donors.

President Trump boosted the economy, reduced illegal invasions, appointed
dozens of judges and three SCOTUS justices.