MSU board member Mosallam uses support from Nassar survivors to launch campaign

Detroit Free Press - 6/30/2020

A Michigan State University board member is using support from some Larry Nassar survivors to launch his reelection campaign.

Brian Mosallam, who was the earliest on the MSU board to push back against the administration over its handling of the sexual assaults involving Nassar, put out a video of support Tuesday from survivor Kaylee Lorincz to launch his campaign. The news release announcing Mosallam's run also includes support from Rachael Denhollander, the first to publicly talk about being abused by Nassar, the former physician for USA Gymnastics and MSU.

The announcement kicks off a month-long dash to the nominating conventions for each major political party. Democrats and Republicans will pick their candidates for two seats each on the boards of Wayne State University, University of Michigan and Michigan State University.

Michigan is unique in having statewide elected boards that run those three universities. Michigan's governor picks board members for the state's other public universities.

Traditionally, the races for university boards have been afterthoughts, but each university has struggled in recent years with various scandals.

At Wayne State, board members have fought with each other for more than a year and a half over support for the president's plans. Seats currently held by Democrats Sandra Hughes O'Brien, one of the leaders of the group pushing against the president, and a seat held by Shirley Stancato, are up for election. Stancato has generally sided with the president. They have not said whether they will be running.

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At U-M, where there are ongoing investigations into sexual assault allegations against former provost Martin Philbert and former and now deceased football team doctor Robert Anderson, seats held by Democrats Mark Bernstein and Shauna Ryder Diggs are up for election. They also have not said whether they will be running.

It's at MSU, though, where the board's actions or inactions have been under the most scrutiny. In addition to Mosallam's seat, the seat held by fellow Democrat Joel Ferguson is up for election. Ferguson has made news for what many Nassar survivors have said is indifference to their push for reform.

Mosallam's video positions him as the opposite.

"While many trustees sat in silence, Brian was visibly moved," Kaylee Lorincz says in the video referencing when she first talked to the board about Nassar. "After the meeting, I emailed every one of them and no one responded but Brian. He's been my go-to ever since."

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Denhollander also is endorsing Mosallam.

“Leadership isn’t going along to get along. Leadership is doing the hard and right things, no matter what,” she said in a press release from Mosallam. “I’m very grateful to see leadership coming from Trustee Brian Mosallam.”

Mosallam released a reform plan early on in the process and led the charge for Engler to be removed. Mosallam's initial push was unsuccesful, although Engler was forced out several months later.

“For as long as I can remember, my late mother reminded me to be a friend to the friendless and a voice for the voiceless,” Mosallam said in a statement. “Never before has that rang louder in my head than now. ... Kaylee Lorincz is right, I do have unfinished business at MSU and I look forward to working with everyone to do the right thing there.”

The MSU race has received the most interest from candidates publicly announcing their interest. Already making announcements about their candidacy for MSU's board are former Republican state Senator Tonya Schuitmaker, who led the Senate's Higher Education committee; Republican Ken Stanecki, the chief financial officer for TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants; and Democrat Rema Vassar, a former K-12 public school teacher, counselor, administrator and parent organizer.

Contact David Jesse: 313-222-8851 or djesse@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter: @reporterdavidj

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: MSU board member Mosallam uses support from Nassar survivors to launch campaign

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