Here are the BOT candidates on your November ballot
By Morgan Womack mwomack@statenews.om
DENNIS DENNO
Researcher Dennis Denno is running for the Board of Trustees under the Democratic nomination.
His campaign issues include improving transparency and campus safety, giving Michigan State University employees a $15 minimum wage and fighting for budget priorities.
“No question we need more transparency at Michigan State,” Denno said. “We need more trustees who are going to listen to students and employees on campus … Let’s face it, if students don’t feel safe on campus they’re not going to do well academically.”
Denno worked in the Michigan legislature for 17 years. He said his knowledge of legislative operations would be helpful in a trustee position.
“The Board of Trustees is basically the legislature for the university, the checks and balances against the president’s office,” Denno said. “I’ve got that legislative experience. I know how to work with groups.”
Denno was nominated to run for this position by the Michigan Democrats in 2010 and he was inspired to run again. He said he lives a mile from campus and he notices the impacts MSU has on mid-Michigan as the largest employer and landholder in the area.
“I really care about the university,” Denno said. “Michigan State hasn’t always been the best community partner and that’s something I want to look at and fix.”
MIKE BALOW
MSU parent and veteran Mike Balow is running for a Republican spot on the Board of Trustees.
Balow has regularly attended the Board of Trustees meetings over the past 18 months and spoken during public comments about his sup port for MSU Battle for Swim and Dive. His daughter, Sophia, was a member of the for mer swim team.
“I want to bring my leadership qualities and sensibility to the Board of Trustees,” Balow said. “I feel that it’s really needed right now.”
His campaign issues include managing costs to avoid raising tuition and prioritizing in-state students. He also emphasized his advocacy for the return of the swim and dive team.
“I think it was completely false, the narrative that was used to cut that program,” Balow said. “They were a true asset to the university. I feel like that is a perfect example of the university quitting on a group of kids because the university got lazy and didn’t fulfill its mission.”
Balow received his undergraduate degree from the U.S. Naval Academy. He said his experience serving as well as working in the automotive and real estate businesses improved his leadership skills.
Balow hopes to improve oversight and accountability in administrative leadership.
“(MSU) is like a beautiful cruise ship, it just has the wrong captain right now, wrong leadership,” Balow said. “We need to fix that. We need to make sure that leadership of the university is accountable to the ultimate consumer – which is the students.”
RENEE KNAKE JEFFERSON
Trustee Renee Knake Jefferson is running to keep her position on the Board of Trustees under the Democratic nomination.
Jefferson was originally appointed in 2019 by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to fill the seat of Trustee Nancy Schlichting who resigned due to disagreement of the board’s handling of the Larry Nassar investigation.
Her campaign issues center around encouraging transparency and accountability within the university. These include improving the status of non-tenure-track faculty members and increasing campus safety and survivor resources for students.
Jefferson hopes to encourage more initiatives and partnerships to reach a diverse, large range of students across the state.
“I think a lot about access to education and, in particular, access to education for our in-state students,” Jefferson said. “I’m mindful that we need to keep tuition affordable, especially for in-state students, especially for households that are at a $100,000 income level and below. That’s a continued priority for me.”
After serving on the board for three years, Jefferson acknowledged that the role can come with unpredictable issues like the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Eight years is a very long time commitment,” Jefferson said. “The approach that I take to it is to say these are my values: accountability, transparency, accessibility, safety. I will bring those and apply to them whatever comes up, whether it’s the next global pandemic or it’s thinking about students’ lived experience and how we can enhance that.”
TRAVIS MENGE
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Travis Menge is campaigning for the Michigan State Board of Trustees under the Republican nomination. His campaign issues are in opposition with the university’s COVID-19 directives, specifically the vaccine mandate.
“As a healthcare provider, I strongly oppose this one-size-fits-all university vaccine mandate for our students,” Menge said. “I believe that if students want to get vaccinated, I think that’s their choice ... That young healthy population we know is at the lowest risk for any serious illness or even death related to COVID and I think we are actually doing more harm than good.”
If elected, he hopes to use his experience in healthcare to improve the quality of students’ education in relation to the cost.
Menge received his undergraduate degree from MSU and studied at Lyman Briggs. After going to medical school in Colorado, and bouncing between different training institutions around the country, he ended up back in Michigan.
Menge wants to bring a more conservative perspective to the board, which is now made up of five Democratic positions and three Republican positions.
One of his values also includes opposition to critical race theory, which he refers to as “indoctrination of our students in the classroom.”
“We want to prepare our students and teach our students to be able to think critically and to make informed decisions and avoid indoctrination in the classroom, whatever that bias or viewpoint may be,” Menge said.
FROM COVER ELECTION:
The candidates met again for a second debate on Oct. 25, which was televised statewide.
At this debate, Whitmer reiterated that ensuring abortion rights was one of her top priorities, while Dixon said Proposal 3 would revoke parental consent for medical procedures like gender confirmation surgeries and allow people who aren’t doctors perform abortions. However, Dixon said if voters approve Proposal 3, she’d accept their decision and enforce it as governor.
The debate also touched on inflation and the economy. Dixon countered Whitmer’s assertions that the state has made strides against inflation, citing Whitmer’s vetoes on a child tax credit and a gas tax holiday credit.
Whitmer defended her actions, saying “A governor cannot fix global inflation. But what I can do is put more money in your pockets.” Education, drugs and crime prevention and energy policy were also topics of interest at this debate.
Attorney General and Secretary of State races Democratic incumbents Dana Nessel and Jocelyn Benson are still leading in Michigan’s races for Attorney General and Secretary of State, respectively. They’re challenged by Republican candidates Matt DePerno and Kristina Karamo, both of whom have been endorsed by former president Donald Trump.
The Attorney General race between Nessel
and DePerno is the most competitive out of the three top-of-ticket midterm battles, with recent polling placing Nessel only four points ahead of DePerno – just outside the margin of error. With the candidates at 46% and 42% as of Oct. 27, the race is close enough to be considered a statistical dead heat.
Nessel has fielded attacks from DePerno on her handling of lawsuits regarding Michigan’s votes in the 2020 presidential election. DePerno has stated on several occasions that he believes Michigan’s electoral votes were fraudulently certified in 2020, and has made election integrity a key issue of the Attorney General’s race.
Benson is currently maintaining an eight-point lead over her opponent, Karamo, a narrower margin than she held earlier in October. Karamo has also leaned on falsehoods about the 2020 election in her campaign against Benson, saying that Benson’s championing of a voting rights ballot proposal in 2018 paved the way for fraud at the polls two years later. Karamo has called herself “a little MAGA warrior,” while Benson has argued that the future of democracy is on the line in Michigan.
Like her counterparts Nessel and Whitmer, Benson continues to out-raise her opponent by millions, holding over $3 million in September to Karamo’s $184 thousand.
MICHIGAN’S BALLOT PROPOSALS
Three ballot proposals will be presented to Michigan voters on Nov. 8.
Proposal 1 deals with term limits, extending terms in the state legislature to 12 years in either or both houses. Polling the week of Oct. 12 estimated that 68% of voters approve of the proposal.
Proposal 2 would institute several voting reforms, including an additional nine days of early voting and requiring the state to pay for the postage of absentee ballots. The proposal was polling at around 67% approval as of mid-October.
Proposal 3, arguably the most controversial of the issues on the ballot, would enshrine abortion rights in Michigan’s constitution. Among other things, the proposed amendment would ensure the right to abortions in the state, removing the issue from litigation that has been ongoing since the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court earlier this year. In early October polling, 60% said they would vote “Yes” on the proposal, while 27% said they’d vote “No” and 7% were undecided.
Proposal 3 has been the subject of several recent TV advertisements around the state, primarily funded by conservative interest groups who say it’s too extreme and confusing to be added to the state constitution. If it’s passed, Michigan will be one of several states to have a constitutional amendment protecting abortion.
MAKING YOUR VOTING PLAN
Michiganders have several options when it comes to casting their ballots. You can vote by mail or in-person as long as you’re registered. In-person registration can be done up until and on Election Day. The deadline has passed for online or mail registration..
If you’re planning to vote by mail, make sure to request your absentee ballot by Nov. 4 online or Nov. 7 in-person. Absentee ballots include everything you need to vote, and must be returned by Election Day whether by mail or in-person.
Michigan State University students should decide ahead of time whether they plan to vote in whatever district their permanent (non-MSU) residence is located, or if they’d like to vote in East Lansing.
In-person polls open at 7 a.m. on Nov. 8 and remain open until 8 p.m. If you’re in line before polls close, you are entitled to vote even if you enter your polling place after 8 p.m.
Make sure you’re prepared with your driver’s license or another form of state-issued identification before you head to your polling place. If you’re voting in-person, you can find your polling place on your County Clerk’s web page
Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez
Photo by Olivia Hans
Photo by Olivia Hans
State News File Photo TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022THE STATE NEWS4 ELECTION
Several trustees said they hope communication between each other and with the MSU community can improve in the future.
Board chair Dianne Byrum said leading up to the decision, the board spoke with the Associated Students of Michigan State University, the Council of Graduate Students, Residential and Hospitality Services, Council of Racial & Ethnic Students and Council of Progressive Students, the Faculty Senate, the Union of Non-Tenure Track Faculty, deans, the associate provost and research teams about what they are looking for in an interim president.
“We heard that the criteria should be internal to campus, someone who could step in immediately and had a working knowledge on the complexity of the university,” Byrum said. “One name emerged overwhelmingly: Teresa Woodruff.”
Woodruff said she plans to work with the community and the board to continue creating a safe and inclusive campus and implementing the strategic plan.
“Please know that I stand by all of you, students, faculty, academic staff, staff, alumni, trustees and members of our entire Spartan community,” Woodruff said. “Each of us plays a unique and significant role. And my request is that we be all in for MSU. I look forward to engaging with you all through an upcoming listening tour and plan to provide frequent updates on the state of the university.”
ASMSU president Jo Kovach said they feel very hopeful the board listened to the MSU community and appointed Woodruff. They said they are hoping that the president search will be open and have at least five students on the search committee.
“Provost Woodruff has always been, for ASMSU, like a breath of fresh air,” Kovach said. “It’s really easy for administrators to be a little bit more cold, be a little bit more matter-of-fact, but Provost Woodruff has always put her heart and soul into things when we speak with her.”
ASMSU vice president for internal administration Carl Austin Miller Grondin said he is happy that now Woodruff will be the one signing his diploma.
said the community she and her family has created at MSU has been warm and welcoming. She said she has consistently had a great relationship with ASMSU presidents, including Kovach.
“Their leadership has been extraordinary over the last several months,” Woodruff said. “They’ve just been really a constant champion for Michigan State, for the Michigan State that they want to see.”
Byrum said the board plans to conduct a “competitive, robust search” for the next permanent president. She said when a search process is finalized, it will be shared with the campus community, but that there are no details at the time.
Woodruff is eligible to submit her name and application for consideration, Byrum said. Woodruff said she hasn’t decided if she will put her name in.
“She was the one administrator who consistently worked on behalf of every single student, she cares about every single student, she wants every single student to thrive,” Miller Grondin said.
“Her office is one of the only offices that is consistently asking for student input. In my time being student body vice president, I’ve never had another group ask me to come to their office and talk to them.”
Following the meeting, Woodruff hugged Kovach and Miller Grondin, who both congratulated her. Woodruff
“My head is spinning a bit now, just after the last several days,” Woodruff said.
“Those are questions that I’ll be asking myself and others and so, right now, I’m really focused on the job ahead, and I’m excited to do it.”
The details of the transition from Stanley to Woodruff are still being discussed, Woodruff said. According to the board resolution passed at the meeting, her appointment to interim president is effective Nov. 4, 2022.
Multimedia editor Devin Anderson-Torrez contributed to the contents of this article.
Provost Teresa Woodruff embraces ASMSU’s Vice President Carl Austin Miller Grondin and President Jo Kovach at the Board of Trustees special meeting on Oct. 31. During the meeting Woodruff was appointed interim president. Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez.
The Board convenes at the Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 28. The meeting was President Sameul L. Stanley Jr.’s last board meeting before Provost Teresa Woodruff was appointed as interim president. Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez
“Please know that
I stand by all of you, students, faculty, academic staff, staff, alumni, trustees and members of our entire Spartan community” Teresa Woodruff Interim President FROM COVER WOODRUFF: 5STATENEWS.COMTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 CAMPUS 1. Open your MSUFCU account. 2. Make 10 debit card purchases. 3. Receive $100. msufcu.org | 517-333-2424 | Visit a branch Offer of $100 valid 5/1/22 to 10/31/22 for those who qualify under the MSU student SEG. MSUFCU account must be activated by 10/31/22 and 10 debit card purchases must post within 30 days of card activation to qualify. The $100 will be deposited into member’s checking account within 6 weeks of the 10th purchase. Not valid for existing members with an MSUFCU checking account. May not be combined with any other deposit offers. If new member is referred to the Credit Union, member referral offer will not apply. CLAIM YOUR $100 We CU SHOWING YOUR SPARTAN SPIRIT.
THE STATE NEWS ARCHIVES: Moments from MSU’s presidential history
By Jack Armstrong jarmstrong@statenews.com
The State News took a l ook back at its previous reporting on past university presidents. From our archives, read more about influential moments from these MSU leaders’ tenures.
Kenyon L. Butterfield (1924-1928)
Time out for Turkey: 1925
MSU’s first president mentioned in the oldest available archives of The State News is Kenyon Leech Butterfield, who became president of the university in 1924. Butterfield, the university’s tenth president, was responsible for establishing a Thanksgiving break, according to a Nov. 24, 1925 issue of the Michigan State News.
“‘Time out for turkey’ has been granted to Michigan State college students for the first time in more than 15 years,” the article read. “It was President Butterfield who proposed the recess and other members of the faculty were in favor of it.”
The article notes previous attempts to establish a Thanksgiving break failed because students failed to arrive back on campus in time. They receiveda $1 fine for each class missed – worth about $17 today. Butterfield felt students should be allowed to return home for Thanksgiving, as most of them lived nearby, and nearly all of them lived in the state.
“The students are on trial this year and if they do not leave before Wednesday noon and are back for classes on Monday morning, there is every reason to believe that Michigan State college will continue to have Thanksgiving vacation,” the article read.
Butterfield resigned in 1928 after conflicts with the State Board of Agriculture. However, students that head home this November for Thanksgiving break have Butterfield to thank for their vacation – as well as their 1925 counterparts that apparently arrived back to school on time Monday morning.
Robert S. Shaw (1928, 1941)
• Freshman Week Activities
Begin With Slight Decrease
In Enrollment Anticipated: 1933
• Latest Enrollment Figures
Show Slight Decrease From 1932, 2800 Enrolled: 1933
In September 1933, enrollment at the thenMichigan State College of Agriculture and Applied Science had decreased from the previous year. The Michigan State News ran two articles referencing this.
The first, published on Sept. 21, 1933 was headlined “Freshman Week Activities Begin With Slight Decrease In Enrollment Anticipated” and included a photo of President Robert S. Shaw with the subheading “Shaw Greets New Students.” A subheading in a second article published a week later said Shaw “congratulates registration committee on the large number of students listed,” despite the slight decrease from 1932. That year, 2800 students registered, according to the article.
John A. Hannah (1941-1969)
Mixer, Dance Will Top Week Of Hectic Freshman Activity: 1941
MSU’s 12th president, John A. Hannah, was one of the university’s most influential leaders. He expanded the Michigan Agricultural College through a period of change, raising its enrollment to almost 40,000. Hannah was also a key piece of the college’s mission to find a place in the Big Ten Conference. Hannah served for 46 years from 19411969 – the number 46 is one of MSU football’s three retired jersey numbers.
In an edition labeled “The ‘Beat Michigan’ Issue” from Friday, Sept. 26, 1941, the paper covered Hannah’s address to the new freshman class. The United States would enter World War II only a few months later in December 1941.
“Speaking to the first assembly of the class of 1945 Tuesday, President J. A. Hannah stressed the gratitude that young people living in one of the remaining few countries where they may follow their own inclinations should feel,” the article read.
“Hannah pointed out two obligations: ‘to do our part without shrinking or evasion,’ and ‘to prepare ourselves to serve our country, state, and community in the peace that will most assuredly follow the war.’”
Clifton R. Wharton Jr. (1970-1978)
Architects eye new MSU auditorium sites: 1974
Before MSU’s Wharton Center was named, its namesake was helping architectural planners locate a site for the building.
An article in the Oct. 4, 1974 edition of the Michigan State News detailed plans to choose a site for the new building, but notes that President Wharton would have the final say. The center would cost $16 million to build, or around $96 million in today’s money, according tothe article.
Evidently, Wharton chose Site D, described by the article as “the open area south of Owen Hall, between Shaw Lane and Wilson Drive,” where the Wharton Center is located today.
John DiBiaggio (1985-1992)
• DiBiaggio starts work as president: 1985
• New chief has work cut out for him: 1985
Two articles from July 1985 in The State News discussed President John DiBiaggio’s first day on the job.
“When John DiBiaggio pulls up the chair behind its desk for the first time today, he may want to roll up his sleeves before tackling the job that lies ahead,” one article read.
The article noted DiBiaggio would face challenges as the new president of a “40,000-student research institution,” and recognized that DiBiaggio was an admirer of earlier MSU president Hannah.
The second article detailed DiBiaggio’s early agenda in his first week. The two articles appeared on either side of a photo of the new president unloading some of his clothes after the 860-mile drive from his home in Maine.
M. Peter McPherson (1993-2004)
McPherson Punches Out: 2004
An article published on Dec. 10, 2004 portrayed McPherson, ahead of his resignation, as a power-napping, cigar-chomping workaholic that contributed to a period of campus growth.
McPherson worked to keep tuition low and served as president for 11 years before stepping down on Jan. 1, 2005.
Lou Anna K. Simon (2005-2018)
Former MSU President Simon, USAG officials testify before U.S. Senate subcom mittee: 2018
by C.J. Moore
By the time this June 2018 article was published, Lou Anna K. Simon had already resigned from her position as president. Simon had received calls to resign for her connection to ex-MSU doctor Larry Nassar’s years of sexual abuse.
“In May 2018, U.S. marshals subpoenaed Simon to testify in front of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security investigating the Olympic community’s role in handling sexual assault,” the article read.
“At the hearing the following month, Simon maintained that she was not aware that Nassar’s practices were of a criminal nature.”
John Engler (2018-2019)
Interim President John Engler officially resigns, effective Jan. 23: 2019
Staff Reports
MSU’s Interim President John Engler submitted a letter of resignation in January of 2019, after saying Nassar survivors were “enjoying the spotlight” in an interview with The Detroit News.
Engler was replaced by Interim President Satish Udpa, who vacated the position upon the hiring of Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D.
Samuel L. Stanley Jr., M.D. (2019-Present)
MSU Board of Trustees unanimously approve Samuel L. Stanley Jr. as president of university: 2019
By Katie O’Brien Kelley
In an article published on May 28, 2019, The State News reported the Board of Trustees’ unanimous approval of Samuel L. Stanley Jr. as the next president of the university. Board Chair Dianne Byrum called Stanley an “empowering, compassionate and thoughtful leader.”
The article highlighted Stanley’s advocacy for gender equality and sexual assault survivors.
A day in the life with MSU President Samuel L. Stanley Jr.: 2022
By Morgan Womack
In January, a State News reporter shadowed Stanley throughout a typical workday, as he led meetings about COVID-19, met with students and attended an MSU basketball game at the Breslin Center.
President Stanley to resign in 90 days, states he has no confidence in board: 2022
By Morgan Womack and Vivian Barrett
On Oct. 13, Stanley announced his resignation, announcing that he could no longer serve the board in good conscience.
“It all started on Sept. 11 when it was revealed to the press that members of the board asked Stanley to resign,” the article read. “Chaos unfolded over the next month: Statements of support from trustees and university leaders were released, trustees criticized each other for sharing information with the media, and various student groups, professors and faculty called for more transparency.”
Board will immediately seek interim president: 2022
By Morgan Womack
The same month, The State News reported that the Board of Trustees was searching for an interim president, and that they expect Stanley to maintain steady leadership while the search is underway.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022THE STATE NEWS6 CULTURE
FROM
Portrait of Robert S. Shaw in 1933. State News File Photo
John DiBiaggio in 1985. State News File Photo
7STATENEWS.COMTUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022 PAID FOR BY DCCC. DCCC.ORG. NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE’S COMMITTEE. 76.6% of Spartans voted in 2020. behind in 2022! Make a plan to vote here!
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2022THE STATE NEWS8
By Vivian Barrett vbarrett@statenews.com
