Michigan State’s Independent Voice
ELECTION
2022
A WEEK OUT FROM ELECTION DAY: POLLING, BALLOT PROPOSALS AND MAKING A VOTING PLAN
By Lily Guiney lguiney@statenews.com
The 2022 midterm elections are only a week away. Here’s an update on key races and issues in Michigan, along with helpful information on making sure you’re geared up to vote on Nov. 8.
CAMPUS
Here are the BOT candidates on your November ballot These four candidates are competing for two seats on the Board of Trustees. The eight-year term starts Jan. 1, 2023. PAGE 4
MICHIGAN’S RACE FOR GOVERNOR
The gap between gubernatorial candidates Gretchen Whitmer and Tudor Dixon has begun to tighten as the campaign season heads into its final week. Polling released in October indicated that Whitmer sits at roughly six points ahead of Dixon, at 50.5% and 44.3%, respectively. This is a decrease in Whitmer’s lead, which was clocked at 16 points in mid-September and 11 points less than a month ago. W hitmer has steadily outperformed Dixon in fundraising, pulling in over $26 million from January to August while Dixon struggled to hit $2.5 million in the same time period. The Cook Political Report, an election analyst organization, classed Michigan’s gubernatorial race in late October as a “Lean D” – meaning the race is leaning towards a Democratic victory.
CULTURE
State News File Photo
The candidates participated in the first of two televised debates on Oct. 14 in Grand Rapids, sparring on several key issues facing voters. It marked the first time in Michigan’s history that two female candidates seeking the governor’s office appeared side-by-side for a debate. Dixon acknowledged in her opening remarks that the debate was likely many Michiganders’ first time seeing her, alluding
to issues her campaign has had with name recognition that often come with first-time political candidates. Whitmer emphasized her record on issues like abortion rights and bipartisan cooperation, while Dixon doubled down on past statements questioning Whitmer’s efficiency and transparency in office.
Moments from MSU’s presidential history The State News took a look back at its previous reporting on past university presidents. From our archives, read more about influential moments from these MSU leaders’ tenures. PAGE 6
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MSU Provost Teresa Woodruff named as interim president in unanimous vote By Vivian Barrett vbarrett@statenews.com
Photo by Devin Anderson-Torrez T U ES DAY, N OVE MB E R 1, 2022
The Board of Trustees appointed Provost Teresa Woodruff to interim president in a unanimous vote at a special meeting on Oct. 31. Woodruff was appointed interim president less than three weeks after President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. resigned. In a video sent to the @THESNEWS
MSU community on Oct. 13, Stanley gave the board a 90-day notice of resignation, citing a loss of confidence within the board. Stanley wasn’t present at the special meeting because he was speaking at another event, deputy spokesperson Dan Olsen said. Following Stanley’s announcement, the board released a statement that said the search for interim president STAT E N EWS.COM
would beg i n i m mediately. T he statement also said the board expects Stanley to remain in his position for the full 90 days. At a university council meeting on Oct. 18, Stanley said he intended to “cooperate with the board on a transition to an interim president and ensure as much stability” as possible. We e k s of m i s c om mu n ic at ion
c u l m i nated i n a ten sion-f i l led board meeting on Oct. 28, where trustees said they have had problems communicating and trusting each other. During the meeting, Trustee Br ia n na Scot t ca l led Sta n ley ’s resignation “collateral damage” from the trustees’ ongoing problems.
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