University of Michigan Opens Investigation Into Regent’s Alleged Messages
University launches probe after Democratic delegates reject regent’s renomination over alleged sexually explicit messages about student.
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN — The University of Michigan is investigating sexually explicit messages allegedly sent by Regent Jordan Acker to members of a Detroit-based sports blog, following his failed renomination by Michigan Democratic Party delegates last weekend.
Paul Corliss, assistant vice president of Public Affairs and Internal Communications, confirmed Tuesday that the university opened an investigation into Slack messages allegedly sent by Acker to the Detroit Sports Rag group chat. The messages were first reported by Tom Perkins writing for The Guardian.
Board Members Call Messages ‘Disturbing’
In a joint statement issued Tuesday, University of Michigan Board of Regents members Mark Bernstein and Michael Behm acknowledged awareness of the “disturbing messages allegedly attributed to Regent Acker in an article recently published in The Guardian, including messages potentially referencing a University of Michigan student.”
“We immediately reported this matter and expect it to be investigated thoroughly, fairly, and expeditiously,” Bernstein and Behm wrote in their statement.
Senate Committee Reviews Allegations
The university’s Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs issued a statement Monday after reviewing the Guardian report. The committee noted that Acker allegedly “divulged private information about a University of Michigan student on an open Slack channel with his colleagues.”
“In this communication he is reported to have lewdly and misogynistically speculated on the student’s sexual activity and posted her picture,” the committee wrote. “The conduct described in this report is disgusting, a violation of trust and professional standards, and unbecoming of the high office of University Regent.”
Failed Renomination Follows Revelations
The investigation comes after Michigan Democratic Party delegates chose not to renominate incumbent Regent Acker during their convention this past weekend. The decision occurred following the publication of the Guardian article detailing the alleged sexually charged messages.
Acker had been seeking renomination to continue serving on the university’s governing board. The Board of Regents oversees university operations and policy decisions for the state’s flagship public university.
The university has not provided a timeline for completing the investigation into the alleged messages. Acker’s current term continues while the investigation proceeds, according to Michigan Advance.
