Date: 1932

Title: The Scandal of 1932

Description: Sara R. Fagan, an East Lansing resident, an honors graduate of the University of Michigan, a member of Phi Beta Kappa Society and an observer and writer on government and politics in East Lansing wrote a story that would cause much controversy throughout the administration of MSC.

Fagan wrote a series of publications that discussed the "alleged improprieties in the music department, conflicts of interest related to board members and college officials, possible illegal real estate deals, and illegal transactions between a college official and an East Lansing bank where college payroll funds were deposited" (Michigan State College, Thomas, 6). Fagan would ask the editors to use her byline and to pay her one dollar for each story used.

After investigations by attorney general Joseph Baldwin turned up no evidence of wrongdoing, a statement was released clearing the university of all allegations. Although the college had been exonerated, President Shaw would dismiss three MSC employees: agricultural school dean Joseph Cox, supervisor of publications James Hasselman, and most notably of all, college historian and former president Frank S. Kedzie.



Source: Michigan State College, David A. Thomas