A sexual violence survivor advocacy group is calling for investigations into several members of Michigan State University’s Board of Trustees.
The advocacy group known as POSSE (Parents of Sister Survivors Engage) says Trustees Brianna Scott, Renee Knake Jefferson and Kelly Tebay as well as former Faculty Senate Chair Jack Lipton violated MSU’s Code of Ethics and generally lack oversight.
POSSE was formed in the wake of the Larry Nassar sex abuse scandal to connect survivors of sexual assault by the former MSU doctor.
The group sent their request in a letter to MSU’s Office of Audit, Risk and Compliance as well as to the governor's office.
POSSE’s Director Valerie von Frank says those university leaders are failing to protect student’s safety.
“It's a wake up call to the entire board to be focusing on matters that are consequential at the university, especially the matter of sexual assault on campus.”
Many of POSSE's complaints relate back to a letter sent by Trustee Scott in the fall of 2023 accusing her colleagues Trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno of ethics violations. MSU commissioned an independent investigation from law firm Miller & Chevalier into those allegations which was released in February of 2024.
That report found Vassar and Denno overstepped their authority multiple times and created a "fear of retaliation" among administrators and MSU staff. The two trustees were censured and suspended from their roles as elected officials for the rest of 2024. Trustee Scott was also censured for violating the university's bylaws when she released the letter that kicked off the investigation.
POSSE alleges Scott and Trustee Tebay encouraged former Faculty Senate Chair Jack Lipton to file a lawsuit against the university. Lipton is suing the Board for allegedly violating his first amendment rights to free speech. He has accused Vassar and Denno of retaliation and intimidation after he called for Vassar's resignation.
von Frank references the Miller & Chevalier investigation, saying the trustees are spending too much time and money investigating each other.
“One in four cisgender women report being sexually assaulted after enrolling at MSU. That's actionable. And instead, they spend their time doing this sort of thing, a $2.4 million investigation, continuing to focus on things that are less consequential.”
She's referring to a 2019 report from the university that found more than 25% percent of undergraduate women at MSU had experienced sexual assault since enrolling.
A spokesperson for MSU declined to comment on the letter from POSSE but shared this statement.
“The MSU Board, and specifically the three Board members named in the complaint letter, have been steadfast in their support to address campus sexual assault at Michigan State University. They have prioritized improvements in our Title IX processes, supported culture assessments and new education programs, in addition to increasing funding to the Center for Survivors and other support programs.”
Trustee Renee Knake Jefferson also commented on questions from the group about her state of residency.
POSSE's letter questions her legal residence and claims she has homes in both Houston and Austin, Texas where the letter also alleges her husband lives.
“All of these statements about me in the POSSE letter are defamatory and false. Regarding the false statements about my residency and taxes, throughout my service as a Trustee, I have been and continue to be a Michigan resident, and I have paid Michigan and East Lansing taxes," Knake Jefferson said in a statement.