Police were dispatched to the homes of Michigan State University trustees who received threats following their phone numbers and home addresses being posted on social media Tuesday night, Trustee Rebecca Bahar-Cook confirmed to The Detroit News Wednesday, June 17.
Officers with the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety are continuing to patrol neighborhoods where trustees live, said Bahar-Cook, D-East Lansing. The department is also investigating who sent the threats.
The trustees’ personal information that was posted is all publicly available information.
The threats came a day after MSU head basketball coach Tom Izzo spoke out about the loss of Athletic Director J Batt to Kentucky and the impending departure of President Kevin Guskiewicz to Clemson University. Izzo said he’s keeping his full comments to himself for now, but said he wants to see alumni in action.
“If there’s ever a time that we need to rally together, it’s now. And that’s all 600,000,” Izzo said. “… I’m gonna ask the alums to stand up, because what happened with our president is ridiculous. And he said it, we know the reasons, and I’m ashamed and disgusted. Hurt. But we’ll see what the Spartan Nation feels. Spartan Nation better stand up. All 600,000 of them.”
Guskiewicz said in a May 27 letter to campus that the university’s ability to make “meaningful progress” was hampered by certain trustees, whom he didn’t name, going against what the majority of the board and his administration wanted for the university. He added that he was “appreciative” of the five trustees who voted to approve a revised board Code of Ethics and Conduct in line with what “national governance advisors have said are best practices for university boards.”
Trustees Rema Vassar, D-Detroit; Dennis Denno, D-East Lansing; and Mike Balow, R-Plymouth, opposed the revised code.
Social media is ablaze with anger toward some trustees
Since the departures were announced, social media has been ablaze with MSU alumni anger and disgust at the behavior of several of the trustees, in particular Vassar. MSU alumni and athletics fans determined that she and Balow, who has questioned the lack of transparency measures for the Spartan Ventures fundraising operation for the athletic department, were responsible for the departures of Guskiewicz and Batt.
Balow said Wednesday it is frustrating that MSU alums were going with what university officials were saying and weren’t trying to verify it themselves.
“If people care to know the truth, call for the Michigan House and Senate to conduct an inquiry, to call the president and board and hear what everyone has to say,” the board’s lone Republican said.
Balow said he was more aware of his surroundings now, but didn’t feel unsafe or fearful.
“In the world that we live in, where political violence has become more common, it’s a shame more people don’t realize words have consequences,” he said.
Bahar-Cook said she didn’t feel unsafe and understood where the anger was coming from. She said none of the emailed threats were directed at her personally, but the ones she’d received were directed to the board as a collective.
“It’s mostly people who are really, really angry,” Bahar-Cook said. “They’re on social media so they can spew whatever without consequence. … It bothers me that they’re upset with the board, but it doesn’t bother me that they’re expressing themselves. … I understand how they’re feeling.”
Bahar-Cook said she was taking precautions but still living normally. She said she didn’t believe anyone would actually come to the trustees’ homes to harm them.
“MSU is still the great institution it’s always been,” Bahar-Cook said. “I understand how (those posting on social media) are feeling emotionally, but I hope once emotions settle down they remember how great of an institution it is.”
MSU police department Communications Manager Nadia Vizueta said more information would be provided if available.
Guskiewicz, board chair issue statement about the threats
Balow said he’s asked Guskiewicz to issue a statement along with the board about the threats to try to tamp down the temperature.
Early Wednesday afternoon, MSU spokesperson Amber McCann texted a statement from Guskiewicz and Board Chair Brianna Scott, D-Muskegon, regarding the threats.
“Michigan State University provides support and resources to any member of our community who experiences unwanted attention online, and we encourage individuals to report concerning posts or content to the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety for evaluation,” the statement read.”We understand that elected officials will be subjected to public critique and criticism, and that at times it may be pointed, crass or even offensive,” the statement continued. “But no person should fear for their safety or be obligated to sacrifice their sense of security in exchange for holding public office. The MSU Department of Police and Public Safety is fully engaged with members of the Board of Trustees to evaluate and respond to concerns, and we thank DPPS for their continued efforts to help ensure the safety of trustees, on and off campus.”
A change.org petition, which has nearly 11,000 signatures as of Wednesday morning, calls for the resignation of Balow, Vassar and Denno.
“This petition is not driven by anger. It is driven by love for Michigan State University and a belief that we can do better,” petition starter Victoria Bell wrote in the description. “If you believe Michigan State deserves accountable leadership, renewed stability, and a governing board that puts the university first, I ask you to add your name and join thousands of Spartans who are calling for change.”
satwood@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Police sent to MSU trustees’ homes after threats, doxxing
Reporting by Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
