The annual Mackinac Policy Conference will be missing four Michigan State University Board of Trustees this week, and for two of them it’s not by choice.
By not supporting the board’s newly enforced code of ethics and conduct, trustees Rema Vassar and Mike Balow had their credentials to the conference revoked, falling in line with the code’s new policy of sanctioning board members that refused to do so.
Six of the eight trustees were confirmed to attend the Mackinac Policy Conference from May 26 to May 29, except for trustees Renee Knake-Jefferson and Dennis Denno, MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant told The State News last Wednesday.
The board approved revisions to its code of ethics and conduct in a 5-3 vote during a special meeting on May 17, barring trustees from publicly dissenting from majority board decisions in their individual capacities despite internal pushback.
Dennis Denno voted to not approve the revisions, but signed the letter on Tuesday, days after it was due, according to The Detroit News.
In a statement sent to The State News, board chair Brianna Scott wrote, "It is our privilege as trustees to use our positions to showcase MSU’s excellence, our world-class faculty and staff and the enviable success of our Spartans. It is not our role to overshadow Michigan State University."
By Sunday, May 24 at 5 p.m., one week after the meeting, trustees were asked to sign the statement of acknowledgement. According to the resolution, if a trustee refused to sign the statement, they would be met with consequences such as being blocked from MSU events that don’t require them to be present in their formal board capacity, the loss of tickets to games, the loss of reimbursements and the loss of university-funded legal representation.
The consequences came quicker than expected for Balow.
Balow said the board secretary told him before the signatures were due that if he didn’t sign the revised code, his credentials would be pulled.
When asked if he would be pursuing legal action following the passing of the new code of ethics and conduct, Balow said he is "investigating" what "avenues might be available."
