Journalist at Michigan State Universityhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3mkscplsfzc2mThe academic accommodations issue has been hotly debated in higher ed circles. So I wanted to dive deep on how the issue manifests at MSU, a massive, relatively non-selective public university. Give my piece a read! [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 May 2026 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkscplsfzc2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3mjcprumt7k2oNEW: A faction of the MSU board has "serious concerns" with the school's top attorney, Brian Quinn, and has compiled a dossier, addressed to the president, detailing them. Read our part-scoop, part-profile on what's led up to Quinn landing in hot water. https://statenews.com/article/2026/04/board-members-have-serious-concerns-about-msus-top-lawyer?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest12 Apr 2026 15:58 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjcprumt7k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3mi5d2br7ac2cGrok, put me on campus novel Bluesky. I can’t get enough of them!28 Mar 2026 19:01 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mi5d2br7ac2chttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3mhw2u377bk2hICYMI: Given all the AI slop, crass confessions, and woman-hating contained within it, one would be excused for writing off the so-called MSU “burnerverse.” But that would risk missing out all it can reveal. Give this one a read… via @statenews.com. https://statenews.com/article/2026/03/in-burnerverse-spartan-men-anonymously-chronicle-campus-life-sports-fandom25 Mar 2026 21:46 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhw2u377bk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3ls4vnapapk2cTariffs, tensions cloud outlook for fireworks sellers, shows, next year My latest, via @detroitnews.com https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/2025/06/20/tariffs-tensions-cloud-outlook-for-fireworks-sellers-shows-next-year/84275313007/21 Jun 2025 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3ls4vnapapk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lijvrqlcrc23Federal agencies have begun “requesting certification” that MSU doesn’t operate DEI programs as a condition of receiving federal funding, according to an internal email from MSU’s general counsel. https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/federal-agencies-prodding-msu-on-dei-general-counsel-email-says19 Feb 2025 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lijvrqlcrc23https://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lhvu7f6ivk22At its board meeting last week, MSU doubled down on its DEI defense amid Trump administration hostility. Read this report and the rest of our board meeting coverage over on statenews.com https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/msu-doubles-down-on-dei-defense-amid-trump-administration-hostility?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_featured11 Feb 2025 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhvu7f6ivk22https://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lhgrudefh22qMSU board chair has high hopes for divestment committee, despite criticism https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/msu-board-chair-has-high-hopes-for-divestment-committee-despite-criticism?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest05 Feb 2025 14:29 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhgrudefh22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lhfgwofpo22qMichigan State plans to raise upwards of $3 billion in its upcoming fundraising push — a goal that dwarfs that of any other capital campaign in the university's history. Full story here: https://statenews.com/article/2025/02/msu-sets-3-billion-fundraising-goal-for-upcoming-capital-campaign?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest05 Feb 2025 01:41 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lhfgwofpo22qhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lh2jewkiqc2nA scholar allegedly plagiarized by Jerlando Jackson says he was never consulted for MSU's internal review that exonerated the College of Ed dean. That revelation raised questions among experts about the veracity of that review. My latest: https://statenews.com/article/2025/01/scholar-plagiarized-by-msu-dean-says-he-was-never-consulted-during-exonerating-review31 Jan 2025 17:25 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lh2jewkiqc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lgikomi2ts2vMichigan State University had a panel discussion scheduled for next week on the "Future of DEI Policy at MSU." An executive order signed by President Donald Trump Monday ending DEI in the federal government appears to have changed those plans. https://statenews.com/article/2025/01/msu-postpones-future-of-dei-policy-panel-days-after-trump-signs-anti-dei-executive-order24 Jan 2025 14:01 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgikomi2ts2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lgikmqsgh22vNEW: Months ago, an MSU dean was accused of plagiarism and implicated in a conservative media crusade against DEI scholarship. Now, MSU has "exonerated" the dean of wrongdoing, and condemned "racist" and "despicable" attacks against him. https://statenews.com/article/2025/01/msu-dean-accused-of-plagiarism-targeted-by-dei-opponents-exonerated24 Jan 2025 14:00 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgikmqsgh22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lcv2qlipks2z Michigan State University investigated Larry Nassar in 1999 for a series of blood tests he conducted on young USA Gymnasts at his campus office. Read the bizarre and previously unreported story here: https://statenews.com/article/2024/12/msu-investigated-larry-nassar-in-1999-over-gymnast-blood-testing09 Dec 2024 15:39 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcv2qlipks2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lbzfy7xor22uSCOOP: MSU is preparing for the public launch of a major fundraising push “in the coming months.” The school’s last campaign launched in 2014, before a host of perception-shaping incidents that have defined the university’s difficult decade. https://statenews.com/article/2024/11/msu-planning-strategic-fundraising-push-following-years-of-turbulence?ct=content_open&cv=cbox_latest28 Nov 2024 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbzfy7xor22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/owenmccarthyjrn.bsky.social/post/3lbxeca7az22eA former grad student is alleging her exposure to pesticides during the course of field research at MSU gave her cancer. She intends to seek damages from MSU in connection to the allegations. For The State News: https://statenews.com/article/2024/11/former-grad-student-says-pesticides-in-msu-research-gave-her-cancer-court-records-show27 Nov 2024 20:10 +0000at://did:plc:r6ntzmgft2ltv5engfsc45wf/app.bsky.feed.post/3lbxeca7az22e