government
U-M regent apologizes after investigation confirms ‘disturbing’ Slack messages as authentic
By Jenny Sherman at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· June 26, 2026
· 2 min read
University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker read an apology at Thursday’s board meeting following an independent investigation that determined the “lewd” and “misogynistic” comments he made on Slack about a U-M student were authentic.The University of Michigan issued a statement on Thursday to con...
Key takeaway Acker, who has served on the Board of Regents since 2019, did not mention the Slack messages directly in his apology.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The University of Michigan's decision to close the matter without taking further action against Regent Jordan Acker raises questions about accountability among the institution's leaders. Acker's apology, while sincere, does not address the concerns of those who feel his behavior was unacceptable for a public official. The fact that he will serve out the remainder of his term, despite losing the Democratic nomination for the board, means that the university community will have to continue to work with him. This situation may impact the university's relationships with its students, faculty, and staff, particularly women and other groups who may feel that Acker's comments were discriminatory. The support expressed by Regents Paul Brown and Denise Ilitch, who characterized the situation as a "teachable moment," may be seen as tone-deaf by some, and could lead to further controversy in the coming months.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: government ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker read an apology at Thursday’s board meeting following an independent investigation that determined the “lewd” and “misogynistic” comments he made on Slack about a U-M student were authentic.The University of Michigan issued a statement on Thursday to con...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Jenny Sherman at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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