EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State University is still trying to explain how and why an image of Adolph Hitler appeared on the Spartan Stadium video board before the rivalry game Saturday, Oct. 21.
The Michigan State University-University of Michigan game is one of the biggest games in the state. For many people, it was not only surprising what took place before the game, it was also upsetting.
Questions remain for MSU officials over a pregame trivia question involving Adolf Hiter was shown on the video board at Spartan Stadium Saturday.
“My first thought is it is got to be AI. That’s got to be photoshopped,” said Robyn Hughey, with MSU Hillel Jewish Student Center. “There is no way that it was actually shown on the stadium jumbotron.”
West Bloomfield native Matthew Zivian is on the board of the Jewish Student Union at Michigan State.
“It was just negligence in its purest form,” Zivian said. “I don’t think there was any malicious intentions.”
University officials apologized and promised greater oversight on what will be displayed at sporting events.
Related: Michigan State apologizes after pregame trivia shows photo of Hitler at Spartan Stadium
MSU Interim President Teresa Woodruff attended a brunch at the Hillel Jewish Student Center on Sunday, Oct. 22.
“It was a good opportunity for everybody to cool down, and sort of come together,” Zivian said. “But I know that real conversations need to be had to go forward where we can get a proper explanation as to what happened.”
The incident happened during a time of rising tension across the country, including on campuses, over the crisis unfolding in the Middle East.
“We are always thinking about students’ mental health, their wellness,” Hughey said.
The investigation into how it happened is ongoing. One employee has already been suspended.