Michigan Regent Apologizes Following Sexual Comments

University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker apologized last week after an investigation confirmed that he made vulgar and sexual comments about a student and a political strategist.

In April, The Guardian reported on messages sent by Acker in a group chat in which he made sexual comments about a female Michigan student and a Democratic party strategist. A lawyer for Acker initially denied his client had ever used the messaging service, Slack, which The Guardian obtained screenshots from. Acker told another news outlet the allegations were “fake.”

Now, following a university investigation that confirmed the allegations, Acker’s tone has shifted.

“For those who have been hurt, disappointed, frustrated, or angry, I understand why. I do not ask for sympathy. I do not ask anyone to excuse my mistakes. I only ask that my apology be heard as sincere,” Acker said during a regents’ meeting last week, as reported by Bridge Michigan.

But, the news outlet noted, he did not specify why he was apologizing and made no direct mention of the specific allegations. Acker also took a swipe at critics in his apology at the meeting.

“Much has been said and written about me,” Acker remarked in his public comments. “Some of it I believe has been unfair, some of it has felt like a deliberate attempt to define me by my worst moments and mistakes, but today is not about that. Today is about accountability.”

Acker, a Democrat, has been on the board since 2019 but lost a re-election bid earlier this year. He has six months remaining on his term and has not signaled that he plans to step down early.