MSU Trustee Sues President, Officials Over Alleged Discrimination

Michigan State University trustee Rema Vassar has filed a federal lawsuit against President Kevin Guskiewicz and current and former university officials, alleging race- and sex-based discrimination and retaliation for criticizing university leadership and advocating for transparency. The complaint says officials removed her as board chair, stripped her of committee assignments and trustee privileges, ended university-backed legal protection, and sought to remove her from elected office; it also challenges a revised board ethics code that Vassar says could punish independent criticism. She connects the alleged retaliation to advocacy concerning the release of Larry Nassar investigation documents, accountability after the 2023 campus shooting, and concerns raised by Black students. Vassar seeks restoration of her privileges and legal protections, withdrawal of sanctions, an order blocking enforcement of the ethics code, and damages. The lawsuit follows a three-year dispute that included an outside investigation criticizing some of Vassar’s actions; MSU declined to comment, while Guskiewicz called the lawsuit “unfortunate” and declined to discuss its details.