Michigan State board member Pat O'Keefe resigns

EAST LANSING − Pat O'Keefe, who was elected to the Michigan State University Board of Trustees two years ago, announced his resignation Wednesday in a letter sent to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Board of Trustees Chairperson Dianne Byrum confirmed O'Keefe, a Republican whose term runs through Jan. 1, 2029, alerted Whitmer of his resignation. She declined further comment.

O'Keefe did not return a call requesting comment.

O'Keefe wrote to Whitmer that his resignation is effective immediately.

"I sought election to the Board of Trustees because of my deep affection for the University, which is my alma mater," he wrote. "I wanted to bring my 30-plus years as a business and turnaround consultant to assist the University in moving past the dark days of (Larry) Nassar. Knowing the institution's history, I can no longer serve on a Board that purports to promote cultural change yet struggles itself to be transparent."

O'Keefe referred to the forced resignation of Sanjay Gupta, the former dean of the MSU Broad College of Business. He has "serious concerns" regarding the circumstances that led to Gupta's resignation and "the manner in which it occurred," according to the letter.

Gupta resigned over allegations that he learned of, but failed to report, an incident of alleged sexual misconduct. He reportedly failed to report claims that a staff member at MSU's business school got drunk on April 22 at The Studio at 414 in Lansing during a Gatsby Gala for master's students, Crain's Detroit Business reported.

The trustees launched investigations into Gupta's resignation and the handling of Title IX reports by the university and former President Samuel Stanley Jr., who resigned and served his last day at the university on Nov. 4. Stanley cited a loss of confidence in the board.

The push by O'Keefe and other members of the board to investigate Gupta's resignation and the university's handling of Title IX reports angered faculty and led to several votes of no confidence from faculty and student groups.

"My fear is that the Board will bypass yet another opportunity for institutional transparency and never disclose the results of any internal or external reviews into the matter," O'Keefe wrote. "The findings of these reviews also impacts the organization and effectiveness of the Title 9/OIE office.

"I hope University influencers and stakeholders demand answers regarding the termination of the former Business School Dean, as well as the Interim President selection process. The population served by the Board is worthy of such answers. My belief is that shadows of the University's past will continue to linger if true change remains aspirational and the Board does not practice the transparency it seeks to promote. I hope my voice, along with University influencers and stakeholders, increases scrutiny on future actions and emphasizes the need for meaningful change within the institution."

Trustees withheld, claiming attorney client privilege, thousands of documents concerning Nassar's time at MSU from the attorney general's office.

Following the numerous no-confidence votes, O'Keefe spoke during his last Board of Trustees meeting on Oct. 28, blaming faculty for the negative headlines in the years since the Nassar scandal and accusing them of being promiscuous with students.

“To the faculty and senate, I want you to know that I am tired of reading about the sexual transgressions of the faculty, which are like reading ‘50 Shades of Grey’ and are as long as ‘Gone With the Wind,’ without knowing what the outcomes are for such behavior," O’Keefe said during the Oct. 28 meeting. “This is about corralling the unchecked sexual promiscuity of faculty, who seems to have unfettered access to our most vulnerable student population with little to no repercussions in some instances.”

O'Keefe is the latest trustee to resign.

Nancy Schlichting was appointed to the board by former Gov. Rick Snyder in 2018 following the death of Trustee George Perles. She resigned in October 2019 over frustrations with the board, including the board’s reluctance to release the thousands of documents related to the Nassar scandal.

Whitmer appointed Trustee Renee Knake Jefferson to complete Schlichting's term and the newly re-elected governor will be tasked again with appointing someone to complete O'Keefe's term.

"Michigan State University is a premier institution in the state. It is deeply important to Governor Whitmer, both as a Spartan and as governor, that students, staff, faculty, alumni, and the public have confidence in the board," said Bobby Leddy, Whitmer's communications director, in an email. "That begins with having great partners and great leadership in these positions. We will begin our search to appoint someone who will stand up for those values and move the university forward."

Nassar pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting hundreds of women and young girls under the guise of medical treatment. He worked at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics.

He is serving an effective life sentence after convictions in federal court for child pornography and in Ingham and Clinton for sexual assault.

Michigan State, which was accused of missing chances over many years to stop Nassar, agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 women and girls who were assaulted by him. USA Gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee made a $380 million settlement.

Contact Mark Johnson at majohnson2@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByMarkJohnson.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State Trustee Pat O'Keefe resigns in letter to Gov. Whitmer