Michigan Attorney General calls on Michigan State University to release ~6,000 documents
Updated Feb 27, 2019 @ 11:30 am ET
Not everyone agrees that MSU should waive attorney-client privilege to release all of the documents requested by the independent investigators MSU called upon to determine the truth. Here's a list of reasons for releasing vs. concealing the documents.
Pros
Potential benefits of releasing the documents
MI Attorney General Dana Nessel called for MSU to “do the right thing” and turn over ~6K documents related to the [MSU] investigation. She issued “... a personal plea to the trustees at MSU. If you really care, if you’re really sincere about wanting complete transparency and wanting us to have a complete reportso that we can make certain that nothing like this can ever happen again, let us have those documents.” She reminded everyone that “... the [MSU] board of trustees has an obligation to act in the best interest of the people of this state, not MSU’s donors and not its brand image.”
"Asking [MSU] tocooperate with law enforcement isn't unreasonable" -- Rachael Denhollander, survivor
"Survivors and their families were promised the truth. Those documents hold some of the truth. By waiving privilege they are proving that it truly is a new day at MSU. This action will go a long way in repairing MSU’s reputation which is invaluable and necessary." -- Parent of a survivor
The public interest here is overwhelming, the compelling need for truth is on the minds of everyone ... and the very integrity of the institution for decades to come is at at stake. [MSU] must face the cold, hard facts: the ... crimes and failures will exact a price for a long time, and the truth will only help, not hurt in the long run. -- Neil G. Wolf, Esq.
“Sometimes ... things are more important than money and finances... the survivors and the public ... deserve to know what happened ...” -- Bill Forsyth, former MI AG independent special counsel
Revealing the truth upholds The Spartan Code of Honor (provided below).
"Parents & survivors can't feel peace or believe in reform until what's still hidden is uncovered." -- Valerie von Frank, mother of a survivor
Exposing the truth (by releasing the documents) supports Tom Izzo's mission to make MSU "the greatest, safest university in the country."
The truth may reveal that MSU violated terms of their insurance coverage. For example: 1) a school leader or mandatory reporter knew about the abuse, but didn’t report it to the “proper authorities,” or 2) MSU learned about the abuse, but didn’t tell an insurance carrier right away. If either of these things is true, the insurance policies aren't likely to be honored. (i.e. MSU could financially benefit by concealing the truth.) MSU Honor comment: Is #1 documented in the Clery Report?
“If [MSU] were to be excluded [by the insurance companies] based on some exclusionary requirements that MSU maybe didn’t do, or people they needed to contact at a certain time, or little tiny technicalities like that - if we were to lose $500 million because of things like that, we have to weigh whether or not [revealing this truth is] worth it.” -- Brianna Scott, MSU Trustee (i.e. MSU might financially benefit by hiding the truth.) More context here.
As a Spartan, I will strive to uphold values of the highest ethical standard. I will practice honesty in my work, foster honesty in my peers, and take pride in knowing that honor in ownership is worth more than grades. I will carry these values beyond my time as a student at Michigan State University, continuing the endeavor to build personal integrity in all that I do. [Source]