The State News wins FOIA lawsuit against MSU

Michigan State University's student-led newspaper has won its lawsuit against MSU, which argued the university had unfairly redacted the names of individuals mentioned in public records.

Sima Patel, a Michigan Court of Appeals Judge, ruled in The State News's favor yesterday, writing that "the need to protect the individuals' privacy was not outweighed by the public's interest in government accountability."

MSU still has the right to appeal Patel's decision. MSU Spokesperson Mark Bullion declined to comment on whether it would.

"The message to MSU from (the judge's decision) is, 'follow the freaking law,'" said Elizabeth Abdnour, a Title IX attorney who is representing The State News in the lawsuit. "Transparency is going to happen, whether you like it or not."

The State News filed public records requests for documents about MSU employees who had been investigated by the Office of Institutional Equity - the university department that addresses sexual misconduct and discrimination complaints - more than once and found not responsible for misconduct.

MSU's Freedom of Information Act Office redacted the names of the individuals who had been repeatedly investigated, saying they did so to protect the individuals' privacy.

The State News appealed the redactions, arguing even though the employees mentioned in the records had been cleared of wrongdoing, the records "provide insight into the university's handling of sexual misconduct."

Disclosing the employees' names would allow further investigation of "the unusual circumstance of the same people being reported multiple times and then repeatedly being cleared of wrongdoing," The State News wrote in its appeal.

Then-Interim President Teresa Woodruff upheld the decision.

The State News filed its lawsuit in February 2024.