The atmosphere at today’s MSU Board of Trustees meeting was much more subdued compared with the last few meetings. There were no disruptions by members of the campus organization ReclaimMSU, though the voices of sexual assault survivors were heard during public participation.
One speaker was Grace French, a Larry Nassar assault survivor. She says survivors have been reaching out to offer input on MSU’s presidential search, but got “zero response.”
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“Because we have reached out so many times saying we want to be involved in whatever cultural change, that they would be smart enough to connect the dots and be like OK, so they want to be involved…this is a way we can get them involved.”
French says survivors do plan to be involved in any public opportunities provided by the search committee.
Committee member Trustee Joel Ferguson has faced criticism for Nassar-related remarks, and some opponents are unhappy that he’s part of the process. Ferguson chaired the last presidential search committee at MSU and says he’s “very qualified".
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“I’m very qualified. I’m very able. I can’t picture any remark that someone has a shot with. What’s someone unhappy about? I’ll do a very good job, like I always have.”
University spokesperson Emily Guerrant points out that even though no known Nassar assault survivors are on the committee, that doesn’t mean that no panel member has ever been sexually assaulted.