EAST LANSING, Mich. — Six Michigan State University students involved in last weekend’s disturbances in East Lansing have been suspended from the university by the vice president for student affairs, because their continued presence on campus raises clear issues of safety based on the acts for which they are charged. 

The students have been suspended pending final resolution of the matter, according to Lee June, vice president for student affairs and services. June noted such “temporary suspensions” are provided for in the document “Academic Freedom for Students at Michigan State University,” and that a student placed on this kind of suspension may petition for reinstatement. Such a petition will be considered either by the vice president for student affairs and services or the student-faculty judiciary, as requested by the student. A hearing, for the sole purpose of determining whether the suspension will be continued, must be held within five class days following receipt of the petition. 

June said so far 11 students have been referred by MSU Police to the judicial system for allegedly violating the university student disorderly conduct policy provision which says, “Michigan State University students shall not engage in disorderly conduct at or in connection with a riot.” A riot is defined as five or more persons acting in concert and engaged in conduct that can intentionally or recklessly cause or create a serious risk of causing “public terror or alarm.” 

Of the 11 referred, seven already have been reviewed for possible interim suspension. Of those seven, six were notified of their suspensions and the other one was ruled out for temporary suspension. June said the remaining four students referred are also being reviewed for possible temporary suspensions. Additionally, other students not yet referred will be subject to the same process. Referrals can come from the MSU Police or any other member of the MSU community. 

June emphasized that the academic freedom document says: “The interim suspension shall not preclude, predetermine, or render irrelevant subsequent disciplinary action or procedures; nor shall an interim suspension create a presumption of guilt.” 

Students temporarily suspended also are subject to the regular judicial process that determines the final outcome of the case. In the standard process, a student is notified of an allegation and given an opportunity to respond, having the option of having the case heard by a member of the student life judicial staff or the student-faculty judiciary. Once a decision has been rendered at this initial stage, a student has the option of appealing the finding to the student appeals board, and subsequently to June or his designee for final determination.

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