University boards are charged with providing oversight and direction to the schools. At Michigan State, however, the board of trustees apparently sees its role as shielding the university from scrutiny.

The board now appears to be engaged in an outrageous attempt to hide from the public the results of an investigation into the departure of the business school dean.

Sanjay Gupta, dean of MSU’s elite Broad College of Business, was compelled to resign last spring for what the university said was his failure to personally report a violation of the school’s Title IX sexual misconduct policy.

His leaving was directed by then-Provost Teresa Woodruff, now MSU’s interim president. Gupta, a popular campus figure and prolific fundraiser, and Woodruff were apparent rivals for the presidency.

Outrage at his forced resignation from both faculty and donors prompted the board to hire an outside investigator, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, of Los Angeles.

The firm’s preliminary report was delivered to trustees Thursday in a closed-door meeting. It was to have been given verbally, with no paper copies filed or distributed, which makes it difficult for the public to know the findings.

Such intentional obfuscation of information that might reflect poorly on the MSU administration amounts to negligence of the trustees’ obligation to be honest stewards of the university on behalf of the taxpayers who fund it.

The board’s bylaws are clear: “In the Universityís unceasing quest for truth and enlightenment it must encourage the timely discussion in open forum of a wide variety of issues, some of which are bound to be controversial.î”

A closed-door report suggests the board is afraid of how the MSU stakeholders will react to the Quinn Emanuel findings. Gupta may have been forced out on questionable grounds. The incident that led to his downfall was his failure to report that he was told an MSU prof danced inappropriately at a business school afterparty.

Two of Gupta’s subordinates were already reporting it to the appropriate office, and an investigation was either underway or about to begin. While university policy required Gupta to report it as well, his failure to do so would seem to fall short of an offense that merited separation.

MSU must take all offenses seriously, but a critical question is whether Gupta’s forced resignation as dean is consistent with the university’s handling of similar offenses. It’s among the questions Quinn Emanuel was expected to address.

Suppressing even a preliminary report risks alienating the campus community and donors who support the Broad school and who have demanded an explanation of Guptaís removal. …The secrecy also casts a shadow on Woodruff, a logical candidate for the permanent presidency. It would be grossly inappropriate to appoint her if questions remain over whether she orchestrated Gupta’s departure for her own benefit. Unless the findings are released, a shadow of suspicion would shroud her candidacy and presidency.

The board historically defends its opacity as consistent with its fiduciary duties, arguing releasing certain information could expose the university to lawsuits. Under no circumstances does that fiduciary responsibility justify covering up wrongdoing or mismanagement. In fact, doing so exposes the university to far greater risks.

The board’s obligation here is to transparency. It must insist upon a public written report from Quinn Emanuel and then earnestly begin the task of fixing whatever remains wrong at Michigan State University.

— The Detroit News