We'd like to address the recent messages and social media posts by the Black Students’ Alliance (BSA) regarding instances of harm on campus as well as evolving processes within the Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT).

Student Life & Engagement (SLE) recognizes the gravity of the incidents mentioned and remains committed to working alongside students and the broader MSU community to address these serious acts of harm. Student voices and open dialogue inform the work we do. We take feedback from student groups, including BSA, very seriously. That said, we respectfully disagree with certain characterizations of SLE administrators and believe some narratives in a recent social media post are inaccurate.

The statement that an SLE leader labeled BSA’s actions as “performative” and “untrustworthy” has been taken out of context and is untrue.
Several members of SLE leadership, including those mentioned, meet regularly to listen to and support marginalized and minoritized student communities. We believe direct communication is key to understanding and addressing your concerns effectively. We encourage students to bring their concerns to us directly to foster dialogue and create shared, actionable outcomes.
The claim that ties between the Council of Racial and Ethnic Students (CORES) groups and OCAT are severed is also untrue. CORES students have long had the option to choose their advisers. No adviser has been removed. Student groups are still able to select their advisers, and OCAT staff remain available to serve as advisers.

MSU has a long history of activism. We value student advocacy and encourage students to continue protesting and organizing when they feel it is needed. That said, we also urge students to maintain direct communication with us. The choices we make together shape the future of support for all Spartans – not just for today, but for the years ahead.

We take students’ input seriously because we care. Many on our team share similar lived experiences, affinities, concerns and goals for accountability and resolution on campus. Some are MSU and CORES alumni who returned to MSU to serve the very same organizations that shaped their time as Spartans. Regardless of those connections, every member of SLE is committed to fostering a campus experience that is safe, inclusive and supportive for all students.

In the spirit of fostering open dialogue, I am reaching out to BSA leadership to request a meeting for this upcoming Monday. My hope is we can come together to discuss these matters in greater detail, listen to their perspectives and work toward actionable solutions.

Best,

Vennie Gore
Senior Vice President for Student Life & Engagement
Michigan State University