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Faculty Senate of MSU wants the school to release documents pertaining to Larry Nassar

The Faculty Senate of Michigan State University wants the school to release thousands of documents related to Larry Nassar, the former MSU gymnastics coach who was convicted of sexually abusing hundreds of student-athletes. But MSU is refusing to hand the documents over, citing attorney-client privilege.

The group, which calls itself Reclaim MSU, consists of students, faculty, and staff who want more transparency from the university about the Nassar case. This week, Reclaim MSU led a faculty vote demanding that the university’s Board of Trustees waive attorney-client privilege and release the documents. But the Board of Trustees is standing firm, saying they want to move forward from the scandal instead of revisiting it.

“As Board President, I believe we have made great strides in accountability, transparency and moving the university forward,” said Board President Dianne Byrum. “I am confident in our new President, his tone and his commitment to creating a more welcoming and safe campus that ensures the mistakes of the past never happen again. While I understand and respect the view of some members of the Faculty Senate, the Board of Trustees has been clear on the question of privileged documents. The Board of Trustees has handed over all factual information related to Larry Nassar to the Attorney General’s office.”

One of the professors involved with Reclaim MSU, Richard Miksicek, said that the Board of Trustee’s refusal to be transparent has caused many faculty to “lose trust” in MSU.

“The problem is a culture of trust that we have lost,” he said. “It’s as much about administration reactions to the problems as it is about the crimes and criminal behavior of Larry Nassar.”