The University of Michigan’s investigation into Regent Jordan Acker’s purported Slack messages will be handled outside the university ― likely by a high-profile firm that could cost the university thousands more amid an investigation into its athletic department.
UM Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs and Internal Communications Paul Corliss initially said the university’s investigation would be internal. He said in a Tuesday evening text that the investigation would actually be handled outside the university, and on Wednesday afternoon said it would be by New York-based Patterson Belknap.
Anyone with information about the messages is asked to email UMconcerns@pbwt.com or call (212) 336-2083.
The investigation is one of several into the conduct of prominent and powerful men at the university within the last five years.
The university retained Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block to investigate reports that former President Mark Schlissel was having an inappropriate relationship with an employee in 2021 and again called on the firm to investigate former head football coach Sherrone Moore’s inappropriate relationship with his assistant in 2025. That investigation was expanded to cover the entire Athletic Department and is ongoing.
Acker’s purported Slack messages included obscene comments about a Democratic strategist, but for the faculty, the most concerning were comments he allegedly made about a female UM student. After her parent contacted Acker regarding her health and a string of urinary tract infections she’d had, he purportedly sent a photo of her in the chat and said, “Like, maybe he doesn’t realize that his daughter f—-, apparently a lot.”
Acker told The Detroit News on Sunday after the allegations were first reported by The Guardian that they were “ridiculous” and “fake.” Acker’s attorney, Ethan Holtz, said in a statement that Acker “has never been on Slack” and that the messages contained elements that appeared to be “doctored.”
Faculty Senate Chair Derek Peterson said he felt the comments, if made by Acker, were “profoundly dismaying,” and went against what was expected of the regents, or anyone in leadership positions at the university.
However, he said, he wasn’t necessarily surprised.
“I feel like (the university) has seen a pattern of powerful men, and it’s really only men, behaving badly,” Peterson said.
The investigation was announced two days after Acker lost the Democratic Party’s nomination for reelection to the board. Delegates chose to nominate Arab-American attorney Amir Makled of Dearborn and Regent Paul Brown.
Prior investigations
Regent Chair Mark Bernstein said in a message posted to the university’s communications website that the “disturbing messages” would be “thoroughly, fairly, and expeditiously” investigated.
It’s not yet confirmed which firm will be handling the investigation.
The investigation into Moore and the athletic department’s culture is still ongoing and has cost the university nearly $10 million.
The firm’s investigation was sparked by the inappropriate relationship Moore had with his executive assistant Paige Shiver, who has accused UM of failing to protect her from “years of manipulation, harassment, and exploitation” by Moore. The university said it will also look into the way Moore’s firing was handled and the culture of the athletic department that allowed his relationship with a subordinate to go on, along with other scandals that have rocked the university’s athletic department in recent years.
The university hasn’t confirmed when exactly the investigation will conclude and what will be released.
Schlissel was fired by the Board of Regents in 2022 for having a years-long inappropriate relationship with a subordinate after a similar investigation. The investigation revealed emails and text messages sent to the employee that spanned more than two years. Schlissel denied a “physical relationship,” but wrote a letter of apology as part of a settlement with the university that said he showed poor judgment in having the “close personal relationship.”
Other calls for resignation
In March 2021, former Regent Ron Weiser faced calls to resign after comments he made at a North Oakland Republican Club meeting as Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party were reported.
Weiser labeled the state’s top Democratic officeholders “witches” and referenced “assassination” when asked about how to remove two sitting GOP congressmen. The remarks prompted criticism from Democrats and calls for his resignation, but Weiser said on X that his comments were “clearly being taken out of context.” He added that he should have “chosen my words more carefully,” and said he wouldn’t resign from the UM board.
Weiser failed to get the Republican party’s nomination for reelection to the board in 2024. Instead, the party nominated Carl Meyers, who won a seat on the board, and Sevag Vartanian.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: UM’s probe of Regent Jordan Acker takes sudden turn. NY firm hired
Reporting by Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
