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