MSU Faculty Vote of No Confidence or Vote of No Consequence?

“I think the hope was to show people that, while this is more of a symbolic vote, symbols have meaning.”

Michigan State University Trustees Cheyna Roth 1.22.18jn

Cheyna Roth/MPRN

The fallout at Michigan State University continues in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal.

The MSU Faculty Senate recently held a vote of no confidence in the university’s Board of Trustees. It passed overwhelmingly.

WDET’s Jake Neher talks with Michigan Public Radio’s Cheyna Roth about the significance of that vote.

“This was a vote of no confidence, but… a lot of people are calling this a vote of no consequence,” says Neher.

Roth points out that the vote is symbolic — nobody has to resign, nobody has been fired.

“I think the hope was to show people that, while this is more of a symbolic vote, symbols have meaning,” says Roth.

We also hear from a voting member of the MSU Faculty Senate, who says all eight board members should “leave en masse out of love for the university.”

Click on the audio player above to hear to hear the full conversation.

Authors

  • Cheyna has interned with Michigan Radio and freelanced for WKAR public radio in Lansing. She's also done some online freelancing and worked on documentary films.
  • Jake Neher is senior producer for Detroit Today and host of MichMash for 101.9 WDET. He previously reported on the Michigan Legislature for the Michigan Public Radio Network.