WSU, Board of Governors
Wayne State University
Education
5221 Gullen Mall Detroit, MI 48202 (Directions)
WSU Student Center
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Christiana Beckley
Students presented a "Responsible Investment Proposal" to the Board of Governors, identifying the university's history of divestment from South Africa and tobacco, and corporations found complicit in Gazan genocide. The governors seemed uninterested; one refused to take a copy.
Live reporting by
Perry Sylvester
Students presented a "Responsible Investment Proposal" to the Board of Governors, identifying the university's history of divestment from South Africa and tobacco, and corporations found complicit in Gazan genocide. The governors seemed uninterested; one refused to take a copy.
Perry Sylvester
@PerrySylvester6
Ok, Detroit! Wednesday, 12/11 at 2 PM I live tweet the WSU Board of Gov's meeting for #DETdocumenters @DetDocumenters & media partners @BridgeDet313 @chalkbeatDET @freep @metrotimes @michigan_public @media_outlier @PlanetDetroit @wdet @wxyzdetroit
04:20 PM Dec 10, 2024 CST
Meeting is held on WSU campus, WSU Student Center, 5221 Gullen Mall. The agenda is here ššš bog.wayne.edu/meetings/373/bā¦
bog.wayne.edu/meetings/373/bā¦
This is anniversary meeting of the one that, well, got a little disrupted as reported by media partner @wdet and @HerbergRadio ššš§ wdet.org/2023/12/08/stuā¦
wdet.org/2023/12/08/stuā¦
@wdet @HerbergRadio But that was really just the start of things to come. The Boycott-Divest-Sanction movement was soon in full-swing...here is an 'Introduction to BDS' from the WSU student paper šššļø
@wdet @HerbergRadio I meant, here thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_16b4fcā¦
thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_16b4fcā¦
@wdet @HerbergRadio WSU, like many universities across the country, had an encampment of activists. And like all the encampments across the land of the freeish, it was closed down. A refresher is here šš blackagendareport.com/detroits-wayneā¦
blackagendareport.com/detroits-wayneā¦
@wdet @HerbergRadio Since that time, the g******* in Gaza has continued (accelerated?) & the conflict has gone regional. And the students, faculty and community members are not stopping their protest: thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_7ee8abā¦
thesouthend.wayne.edu/article_7ee8abā¦
@wdet @HerbergRadio 20 minutes or so prior to startā¦no sign of signs, just sound checks & people settling in
@wdet @HerbergRadio So the public is gatheringā¦some āFree Gazaā gear but no signs are apparent
@wdet @HerbergRadio 2:03 and I am officially āantsyāā¦thank goodness they call it in order @DetDocumenters &@DetDocumenters
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Role & the frustrating biz as usualā¦consent agenda, etc & big hires
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Once more we have an agenda item dealing with faculty member-owned/controlled firm & contract with WSUā¦requires role-call vote & carries
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Something about policy on restricted & prohibited researchā¦this at about 2:10ā¦would be interested in seeing more of what this entailsā¦when offered to speak on it, person queried stated it was just standard policyš§
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters They are going through nominations for positions on Board of Governors for 2025ā¦all comfy-cozy & friendly
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters They move to committee reportsā¦they are offering a new program in something that seems like neuroscience
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Budget/Finance reports nextā¦moving ahead with 2 capital projects about 2:15ā¦now talking about full review of HR with report. Apparently everything is going to be fixed [sic]š„³š
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Not sure what āeverythingā entails, but thatās good, right? I mean, whatever it is?š
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Presentation time! This is part of overall strategic planā¦standard buzz wordsāāefficiencyā, āstate-of-the-artā etc
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters This is along with the āFrameworkā stuff on their website šš campusplan.wayne.edu
campusplan.wayne.edu
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Now weāre hearing about redevelopment dreams for several buildings listed below
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters They move to update on Health Sciences Research Bldgā¦going over āGolden Hordeā of those involved in the projectā¦and pretty pictures!
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters $50 million in capital projectsā¦would this have any impact on tuition? Just thinkingā out loud as he talks about $13 million on 2 elevatorsāwhich just canāt be right, so check transcript at 2:25-2:30 š¤·š¼āāļø
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters All the usual buzzwordsā¦reduce carbon footprint, stormwater management, waste reduction/diversionā¦ācomprehensive approachā (which seems reasonable given it a systemic issue)ā¦
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters ā¦as Board Members talk about how great sustainability is, one has to look at the equally ambitious capital building campaign they previously discussed and ask if the 2 might be a tad contradictory. But thatās just me
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Review of the āhappy newsā of accomplishmentsā¦one important aspect is faculty R&D
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters As meeting rolls on, more & more people have come into the meeting room as members of public..28 people were listed on agenda to give comment, wonder if they will allow more
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Agenda item 10ā¦recognition of Mark Gaffney. 1st vote to grant him emeritus status, 2nd a vote to endow a scholarship n his name
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Chair is giving some outgoing wordsā¦discussion of his achievements, noting his labor background
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters So, here is the other sideā¦the timer relentlessly winding down, having to speak fast
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters A med student discussing the growth of the BDS movementā¦states she (and others) will be reading parts of same text during parts of their comments
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Makes connection between Native Americans and Palestiniansā¦quotes Hannah Arendt on how people doing evil are often boring careerists, asks board to break ranks
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters This student passed out the document she reading fromā¦recommendations for WSU divestmentā¦one of the board (I believe) refused to accept documents
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Professor from Ecumenical Theological Seminary speaks outā¦points out insanity of situationāboard is acting like human shields for corporate interests, also makes connection to Native Americans
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters The board member who refused to accept the divestment recommendation document is being called out
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Ridaa Khan, member of student senate speaksā¦she has a copy of the document, if anyone wants one
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Next person points out how WSU has mangled school public speech rules & weaponized policeā¦when educational institutions become ideological freedom is over
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Next personā¦notes how WSU has multimillion dollar grant for studying PFASā¦while Israel has weaponized PFAS in Gaza
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Next speaker approaches podium and states simply that she will continue reading from the document & launches right in
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Next speaker begins, stating sheās just here to continue reading the documentā¦
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters The section of the document is ānaming namesā of US companies producing weapons like Raytheon or weaponized tools like Caterpillar
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters But not just āhard goodsāāpointing out financial institutions as wellā¦points out that Board member Land is on her phone while comments go on. Likeā¦wow. š¤Ø
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters Huwaida Arraf, co-founder of International Solidarity Movement breaks it down for the Board
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters The members of the board radiating the āso through all thisā vibe & the refusal to accept the document was a bad look
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters From āol TS: The eyes are not hereĀ There are no eyes hereĀ In this valley of dying starsĀ In this hollow valley This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters If I canāt find a link to digital copy I will scan & upload to Documenters
@wdet @HerbergRadio @DetDocumenters That is my coverage for the 12/11 WSU Board of Governors. If you feel any thing is not accurate email documenters@media_outlier.org with āCorrection Requestā in subject line
Agency Information
Wayne State University
Wayne State has been an innovative urban center of higher learning since 1868, when a group of Civil War doctors envisioned a better world through better medicine. Since our founding as the Detroit Medical College, weāve grown to become one of the 50 largest public universities in the United States, offering nearly 350 degree and certificate programs through 13 schools and colleges.