MSU professor calls Trump supporters ‘naive’ in email to students

EAST LANSING — A conservative Michigan State University student group called on the university to discipline a professor who called supporters of President-elect Donald Trump “naive” and argued that the tens of millions who voted for him were supporters of “misogyny, racism, xenophobia, hatred and violence.”

The MSU chapter of Turning Point USA said psychology professor Alexa Veenema’s email to her student after the election violated university policy outlined in the MSU Faculty Handbook.

No disciplinary action has been taken against Veenema, who is a tenured professor, said Emily Guerrant, MSU’s vice president for communications. The provost’s office has had discussions with Veenema and the head of the psychology department, she added.

“This is more of a learning opportunity,” Guerrant said. “And how we would have preferred the situation to be handled.”

Alex Bitzan, president of the MSU chapter of Turning Point USA, said Veenem violated policies in the MSU faculty handbook.

Specifically, he cited three policies: “The University expects its faculty members to engage with others in a professional manner, with courtesy and respect,” “refrain from introducing matters that are inconsistent with their teaching duties and professional competence and that have no significant bearing on the subject matter of the course approved under the University’s procedures.” and “The responsibility to carefully separate their official activities as faculty members from their personal activities as citizens and, when the situation calls for it, to make it clear that when speaking as private citizens they are not speaking for the University.”

Bitzan said he has begun the process of making a formal complaint against the professor.

Veenema also offered bonus points to students who could attend the class after the election, noting that they are “not in a state of mind to learn anything.”

A message was left for Veenema Friday.

The entire email reads:

“Dear students,

“You must be as devastated as I am. And probably feeling an overwhelming sadness. And maybe you’re stuck in the first stage of grief, denial. Or maybe you’re feeling the first 4 stages of grief all at once. I’m right there with you not to look like it has done so far in our lives.It is unbelievable to me that so many Americans are so completely naive and would fall for this and support misogyny, racism, xenophobia, hatred and violence.

“It will be very important to look out for each other, to support each other and to seek support. Sharing your feelings with others and going through this together will help and can reduce your anxiety.

“I will therefore try to be there for you today. Today’s lecture may be shorter, and I understand that you are not in a state of mind to learn anything. But I would like to encourage you to attend today’s lecture anyway Everyone who participates get free bonus points for the TopHat questions.

“Hope to see you in class today!

“Alexa Veenema”

It is not clear whether Veenema had conversations with her students about the election before sending the email. The email was only sent to her class and screenshots of the letter were shared on Instagram.

Bitzan said he has not been able to find an original copy of the email, nor has he spoken to any of the students Veenema sent it to.

A screenshot of the email Veenema sent to students was shared with the State Journal by Guerrant, although it is undated.

Guerrant said other professors had conversations with students after the election and that the university does not discourage those discussions. Guerrant said professors are expected to follow the code of ethics at all times, but there was no specific format the university administration required faculty to follow when dealing with political or sensitive topics.

MSU tenured professors, like others at many universities, have special freedoms when it comes to their work and how they present themselves to their students. The MSU Faculty Handbook state tenure gives “researchers the freedom to explore and express themselves and their work in ways that might be antithetical to presenting knowledge.”

Contact Sarah Atwood at [email protected]. Follow her on X @sarahmatwood

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MSU professor calls Trump supporters ‘naive’ in email to students

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