Engler faced aggressive questions from students during a press conference following his appointment
Former Gov. John Engler, in his first press conference as interim president of Michigan State University, faced aggressive questioning from students and faculty about what steps he’ll take to change the university’s culture in the wake of the Larry Nassar sexual-abuse scandal.
Engler sought to reassure survivors of Nassar’s abuse that he will work to “fix the problems, to change the culture so that a better MSU will be their legacy.” He said he would “lay a positive foundation for a permanent new president.”
“Mark my words,” he said. “Change is coming.”
The university’s board of trustees voted unanimously to appoint Engler – an MSU alum who served as Michigan’s Republican governor from 1991 to 2003 – as interim president on Wednesday morning.
Trustee Dianne Byrum, a Democrat, said she has disagreed with Engler “on many policy decisions” over the years. But said she supported appointing him interim president because he will be “an effective and decisive leader who cares deeply about Michigan State University.”
But several students and faculty members were critical of the decision, saying the process to hire Engler lacked transparency and that he doesn’t have the needed experience in higher education to help the university heal.
Students stepped up their criticism during a press conference hosted by Engler following the meeting, frequently shouting “boo” to some of his responses and yelling “shame” as he left the room.
Dan Martel, president of MSU College Democrats, asked whether Engler would commit to hosting a town hall meeting with all eight-members of the university’s board of trustees in attendance.
Engler said he would not commit to doing so – a statement that drew jeers from students. Martel then asked whether Engler would commit to “investigate claims which go on deaf ears of sexual assault perpetrated by faculty and staff on students.”
The former governor said he would do so, pointing to a previous statement he made in the press conference that he would make changes that “will protect anyone affiliated with our campus from sexual assault, harassment and bullying.”
When asked what changes he will make at the university, Engler said he had not yet decided on what those would be. But he pointed to an unspecified report he read in the news stating that it can take sexual assault victims more than 100 days to get a hearing with the university.
“How does that help someone who is victimized,” he asked.
Engler’s appointment is the latest step in the fallout from the Nassar sex-abuse scandal. Last week, President Lou Anna Simon and athletic director Mark Hollis stepped down in response to the university’s handling of allegations against Nassar, the earliest of which emerged as far back as 1997.
The university is facing state and federal investigations over its handling of the Nassar scandal.
Concerns were raised by students and faculty whether Engler, a former state lawmker who has long history in politics, could help MSU respond to the Nassar scandal without injecting politics into the matter.
Engler said that won’t be the case.
“This is not a time to be political,” he said. “I don’t see a political advantage for someone to gain. This is not an election. I’m out of here as soon as we can get a permanent president.”
But despite Engler’s assurances, some students and faculty remained skeptical.
During the board meeting, Connor Berdy, a senior studying world politics, jumped onto the board table to criticize the process under which trustees hired Engler. He said the decision was rushed and that students weren’t listened to.
“We need to take time to do this right,” he said, speaking after the meeting. “This is not something you can just rush.”
Faculty member Laura McCabe said she and her colleagues will push for a no confidence vote in the board because of its decision to hire Engler.
She read a statement during the board meeting, saying Engler’s lack of experience in higher education made him unfit for the job, and that the interim president should have “experience devising and implementing programs to mitigate sexual harassment.”
Responding to concerns over his qualifications, Engler pointed to his experience managing two national associations. He’s the former leader of the National Association of Manufacturers and the Business Roundtable, both of which are based in Washington D. C.
“You have to listen to people, you have to take input, you have to try to craft solutions among people who have very different opinions, very different views and to reach agreement.”
Later, he added: “I think that the kinds of decisions that will be made will be made in the best interest of the university community. Does that mean they’ll be unanimous? I come from a world where nothing is ever really unanimous.”
Trustee Joel Ferguson, who has faced criticism over comments he made in a recent radio interview that were deemed insensitive to Nassar’s victims, defended the speed at which the board moved to hire Engler.
“When somethings on fire, you don’t call the fire department three days later,” he said. “You call right away.”
