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MSU Board meets with acting president

EAST LANSING, MI (MPRN)--   On Friday the Michigan State University Board of Trustees met for the first time since interim president and former Governor John Engler was ousted in early January. 

Acting President Satish Udpa began his first official MSU board meeting with an apology.  

“I realize the need to formally apologize and to effectively atone...”

The apology was a big tone shift for the M-S-U board of trustees who have had a tumultuous relationship with survivors of Larry Nassar’s abuse.

Udpa said this is the beginning of much-needed listening.

“We failed to comprehend and acknowledge your injuries,” he said. “We were too slow to grasp the scope and enormity of the offense you endured. And we failed to treat you with respect and care you deserved even after we started to make amends.”

Trustee Dan Kelly echoed the President. He says while he knows Udpa’s words are heartfelt, he isn’t the person who needs to apologize.

“I as a board member want to acknowledge that over the past year I’ve allowed an adversarial position between the university and the survivors. That was my mistake and that’s on me. It’s not the President’s fault for having done that. So, I apologize for that,” he said.

The board also announced they would reopen the Healing Fund that provides counseling services to survivors of Nassar’s abuse.

Despite pleas from advocates to open the university presidential search, board members remained firm that it would stay closed.