MSU faculty: 61 - 4 Vote of No Confidence on board of trustees

Submitted by StephenRKass on

MSU faculty held a formal vote of no confidence on the Board of Trustees. The vote was clear:  61 - 4. This was partially precipitated by the Board appointing Engler, rather than someone with real and impartial academic bona fides.

My observation is that despite Engler and some alumni and fan and student elements supporting Dantonio and Izzo, there is a large amount of anger over the whole issue. I really don't think this is going to go away and be swept under the rug.

ESPN LINK:  http://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/22424667/michigan-state-faculty-delivers-no-confidence-vote-board-trustees

FREEP LINK:  https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/2018/02/13/msu-faculty-votes-no-confidence-board-trustees/334155002/

 

J.

February 13th, 2018 at 6:26 PM ^

That makes sense, but if anything it muddies the water more.  I find it hard to believe that there are four entire MSU departments that have confidence in the trustees.  Perhaps four people voted for their own personal opinion over that of their department (like the satellite camp voting in 2016, when the Pac 12 coaches and ADs came out against their own vote).

wolpherine2000

February 13th, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^

...journalisting from ESPN on the details, but the take away is correct. MSU's Faculty Senate gave a vote of no confidence 61-4. The Faculty Senate is made up of representatives from each College, as well as some miscellaneous other stakeholders. 

Why would someone not vote No Confidence? In at least one case, it's not because that person supports the trustees, but that they think that the intent of the vote was misdirected. From the LSJ:

 

One of the four members who voted against the no-confidence motion was Shawnee Vickery, Faculty Director of the Demmer Center for Business Transformation.

It wasn’t because she still has confidence in the trustees. She doesn’t. Her issue was the motivation for the vote as conveyed in the email to faculty soliciting their input ahead of the vote.

“This vote of no confidence should be about the failure of MSU to stop Larry Nassar, and the failure of MSU to support the women who were subjected to such horrific abuse at his hands,” she said.

StephenRKass

February 13th, 2018 at 7:27 PM ^

The Freep link, in particular, mentions that one of the dissenting votes was not happy about the email process or something procedural in the call for a vote of no confidence. Having said that, the same individual had no confidence in the Bd. of Trustees. The point being made is that it actually was 62 - 3. I didn't hear any explanation on the other 3.

LSAClassOf2000

February 13th, 2018 at 9:03 PM ^

From the article:

One of the four members who voted against the no-confidence motion was Shawnee Vickery, Faculty Director of the Demmer Center for Business Transformation.

It wasn’t because she still has confidence in the trustees. She doesn’t. Her issue was the motivation for the vote as conveyed in the email to faculty soliciting their input ahead of the vote.

It sounds like the e-mail made issue with simply the Engler appointment, which didn't touch on what is clearly the larger problem according to this person. I am not plugged into MSU's politics, but I would think that - ideally - you'd want such e-mail to lay out points on both issues. 

MGoStrength

February 14th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^

No one is suggesting they will answer those questions, but I am suggesting the publicity and exposure will return as they will be forced to field the questions in front of the media again.  And, if they decide over and over to basically pleade the 5th it's going to look bad for them and that will be the story line, but there will be scrutiny.

ST3

February 13th, 2018 at 7:24 PM ^

There are multiple investigations going on right now. They are going to be sweeping for many months and just when they are done with one investigation, the next one will conclude and they will have to start sweeping again. Spartans thinking they can ride this out and weather the storm are delusional.

wolpherine2000

February 13th, 2018 at 7:31 PM ^

While it is an open question how deeply the athletic department is impacted by this after Hollis' departure, there is no way the Title IX office and leadership in the College of Osteopathy don't get eviscerated. And the lawsuit settlements will be large enough to financially touch every part of the university, whether they were involved or not.

mGrowOld

February 13th, 2018 at 6:12 PM ^

Read Engler's statement again. Wagons are firmly circled and no way in Hell are the Michigan media gonna do anything to hurt their favorite sons Dantonio & Izzo.

Story is already dead nationally. Only place it gets any noise is here.

PopeLando

February 13th, 2018 at 6:23 PM ^

ESPN is on the war path. MSU jerked them around for a LONG time, and continues to blame ESPN for their woes.

I wouldn't be surprised if there was a front page story for every single speck of dirt that ESPN uncovers.

ChiBlueBoy

February 13th, 2018 at 6:53 PM ^

Any story on Nassar is likely going to be tied in some way to MSU, and it keeps attention on the university. As far as Izzo and Dantonio, it may have died down some, but this is far from over. Even if the NCAA does its usual job, and either ignores the FB and MBB teams or finds no issues, any report released will bring it back in the news with related outcries. If I'm a recruit's parent, and I know that there is a history of sexual assault by athletes under a coach's watch, do you think I'm not taking that into account? This will have long-term damage.

Everyone Murders

February 13th, 2018 at 6:17 PM ^

 

Story is already dead nationally. Only place it gets any noise is here.

Well, only here and the two largest newspapers in Michigan.  And the Lansing State Journal.  And the State News.  And ESPN.

I think this sends a message to Engler that the faculty is watching for shenanigans, and undaunted by the apparent attempts to cover up.  I know it's not coming to a head as quickly as we'd like, but drip ... drip ... drip.

mGrowOld

February 14th, 2018 at 8:43 AM ^

I thiink you live in Michigan correct?  How about a case of either Great Lakes or Thirsty Dog beer (your choice of style) against a case of Founders or Bells on the following:

I wager the following:

1. Dantonio will still be the MSU football coach

2. Izzo will still be the MSU basketball coach

3. MSU will not have recieved any sanctions from the NCAA nor witll they be under any sort of active investigation

Wanna bet?

MGoBrewMom

February 13th, 2018 at 6:18 PM ^

I've been following the Nassar stuff, and the MSU stuff-but not as rigorously.

Isn't there some investigation into MSU and all the stuff going on there (Nassar + other rape type culture and things that never really got "investigated")? I know they appointed Engler, which is an absolute joke; but isn't there some other investigation too? So, in that case even if the national media isn't reporting, couldn't this come full circle following any findings?

mgokev

February 13th, 2018 at 6:22 PM ^

Yes. I'll pick up once findings can be published. At the very least, ESPN likely won't let it go because of MSU's resistance to share information and Engler throwing them under the bus in his statement which was arrogant in spite of everything that has happened. 

ESPN already has it on their top national headlines and also categorized under NCAAM and NCAAF and their article hardly references sports. So, ESPN likely remains vindictive for the long haul.