MSU trustee calls for removal of board chair Rema Vassar
EAST LANSING, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) - In a letter sent to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, trustee Brianna Scott called for the removal of chair Rema Vassar.
Scott cited a multitude of issues as a reason for her call, ranging from bullying on the board to interference in legal disputes. Scott sent the letter on Sunday and shared it with the student-run newspaper, The State News.
"The PR advice generally for leaders is to never be a distraction and never put yourself above the institution," said Matt Friedman, an expert in public relations and co-founder of Tanner Friedman, a PR company based in Detroit.
The State News reported that Scott's letter alleges continued and escalating interference by Vassar, even pushing consultants in charge of reviewing the university's response to the Feb. 13 mass shooting on campus to change their wording in the report.
"Under ideal circumstances, the board would come together, unify around a new president, and set a new tone of leadership for the institution," Friedman said.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer weighed in on the situation Monday, saying in a statement in part, "The allegations in yesterday's report are deeply concerning. If accurate, it would be a huge breach of the public's trust."
She went on to call on the university to get answers, saying, "The university owes it to students, alumni, and our entire state to get to the bottom of this and take appropriate action."
Friedman says this latest turmoil is a new challenge for the school.
"It's been one thing after another at MSU, and this is really the last thing that the institution needs, particularly in the midst of a presidential search," he said.
Trustee Dennis Denno told CBS News Detroit in a statement that he supports Chair Vassar and was disappointed to see grandstanding over what he called " a personal grievance."
CBS News Detroit reached out to all the other members of the Board of Trustees and Interim President Teresa Woodruff but did not receive a response.