LANSING, MI — Lawyers this week for the Detroit Free Press and Michigan State University have been in court arguing their cases over whether the East Lansing-based university acted properly in denying a request filed by the Free Press regarding donations to the school that are apparently funding the contract for football head coach Mel Tucker.
The Free Press sued MSU under the state Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in 2021 for it to disclose the gift agreements it had with several donors, including Mat Ishbia and Steve St. Andre. Both business men have donated million of dollars to the school.
Ishbia is the current chairman, president and CEO of United Wholesale Mortgage, while St. Andre founded marketing firm Shift Digital. The pair’s donations help pay for Tucker’s 10 year $95 million contract he signed last year.
The school this week told the Michigan Court of Claims the university’s position is that an individuals’ privacy interests outweigh the Free Press’ interest in any disclosure. The school says the donors have an expectation of privacy when it comes to the total amount donated to the university and its athletic program.
Appeals Judge Brock Swartzle has said he expects to make a decision in the case in the next four to six weeks.
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